
Class. 



Book * M 3/1/ 7 




/ iy / z^. y? . /aJ&rrzsceA/c/aj 



KECORD OF FACTS 



CONCERNING THE 






PERSECUTIONS AT MADEIRA 



IN 1843 AND 1846: 



THE FLIGHT OF A THOUSAND CONVERTS TO THE WEST 

INDIA ISLANDS ; AND ALSO, THE SUFFERINGS OF THOSE 

WHO ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES. 



BY REV. HERMAN ^NORTON, 

Corresponding Secretary of the American Protestant Society. 



NEW-YORK: 

PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN PROTESTANT SOCIETY, 
150 NASSAU-STREET. 

Stereotyped and Printed by D. Fanshaw, cor. of Nassau ar.d Ann streets. 

1849. 



-* 






OUR ENGRAVINGS. 



The group in the frontispiece are three of the sufferers. On the 1 eft 
hand is F. De Vasconcellas, with his wife in the back ground. They 
were rudely seized by the soldiers and bound, and hurried to prison. 
His hands being tied with a strong leather strap, his wrists became per- 
fectly black by the pressure. They were in prison about two years. See 
page 135. On the right is Joaquine F. Somelino, who suffered, with 
much patient endurance, three years' imprisonment. Seepage 130 — w 2. 

Nicolao T. Vieira is the man whose history is found on pages 119 r 130. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by Edward 
Vernon, for the American Protestant 'Society, in the Clerk's office of the 
District Court for the Southern District of 'Naw-York. 



CONTENTS. 



Page 
Preface. ....•• 7 

SECTION I. 
Madeira. Mental darkness for centuries. Dr. Kalley's 
visit. Learns Portuguese ^Schools opened. Results. 
Bible read. Proscribed ~ 4he priests. Dr. Kalley's 
letter to Scotland. Sch. ,*6 suspended. Bible-readers 
imprisoned. Dr. Kalley in prison by a law of the Inqui- 
sition of 1603. Dr. Kalley ? s address before London 
Protestant Association. Sentence of excommunication. 
Increase of Bible-readers, &c. &c. ... 11 

SECTION II. 
Sentence of death on Mrs, Maria Joaquina Alves. Peti- 
tion to the Quep^i Appeal to the court at Lisbon. Sin- 
gular decision. Mrs. Alves in prison two or three years. 
JJow in Trinidad. Children in New- York. . . 38 

SECTION III. 

Renewal of persecution. New governor. Jesuit at the 
head of the mob. Arsenio Nicos Da Silva insulted. 
Escapes. Misses Rutherfurd's house attacked. Con- 
verts beaten. British protestants flee to vessels. La- 
dies in the Bay. Portuguese houses mobbed and plun- 
dered. Converts flee to the mountains. . . 45 



4 CONTENTS. 

SECTION IV. 

Page* 

Lawless state of the island. Threats against Dr. Kalley 
and others. Dr. Kalley's letter to the police magistrate. 
To the civil governor. To British consul. Treacherous 
guard. Attack on Dr. Kalley's house. Dr. Kalley es- 
capes in the night, — carried in a hammock in lady's 
dress to British vessel. Mrs. Kalley follows him. Con- 
sul and mob on shore. Protest of British ambassador 
at Portugal. Queen appoints a commission. Govern- 
ment at Madeira changed. Mock-trial. Results. 56 

SECTION V. 

Barbarous treatment of native converts. Bibles burnt and 
hid. Converts flee to the mountains. Houses and fur- 
niture destroyed. Portuguese flee to foreign vessels. 
Gratitude. Prayer for enemies. Narrow escapes. Boy 
twelve years old knocked down. Aged woman beaten 
and left for dead. A man murdered. Thousand con- 
verts flee to the West India Islands. State of those left 
at Madeira. Petition to Queen of Portugal for the ex- 
pulsion of all protestants. The bishop's pastoral, &c. 82 

SECTION VI. 

State of Portuguese refugees in Trinidad. Report of . 
Rev. Mr. Hewitson, of Scotland. ... 101 

SECTION VII. 
The American Protestant Society send Rev. M. J. Gon- 
salves to Trinidad. Letter of Rev. Arsenio Nicos Da 
Silva to the Society. Letter of Rev. Alexander Ken- 
nedy. Appeal for the Portuguese. Sublime object of 
benevolence 116 



CONTENTS. 5 

SECTION VIII. 

Page. 
Arrival of sixty or seventy Portuguese in New- York, 
under care of American Protestant Society. Appeal 
for clothing and provisions. Response. Character of 
these exiles. Instances of personal suffering. Impri- 
sonment. Escape. Colony at the West. . . 116 

SECTION IX. 

Rev. Arsenio Nicos Da Silva, — his father's family, — be- 
comes merchant, — marriage, — only daughter's health 
Dr. Kalley invited as physician ; — hears Dr. Kalley's 
preach. Contrast with priests. — Receives a Bible from 
Dr. Kalley, — searches it, — Peter's epistle, — conver- 
sion. Associates with converts,— insulted by priests. 
Escapes the mob, — his life in danger, — separation from 
his family, — flight to Lisbon, &c &c. Trinidad, — or- 
dained pastor of six hundred exiles, — his labors and let- 
ters to American Protestant Society. Arrival at New- 
York, — sickness, — death, — funeral, — his life and cha- 
racter. Letter of Rev. Mr Hewitson, &c. . . 137 

SECTION X. 

Providence of God in providing a home for the exiles. Lo- 
cation. Plan of settlement. Expense of transporta- 
tion. Appeal for aid. Colony of six hundred expatri- 
ated Portuguese. Moral influence. . . . 182 

SECTION XI. 

Islands of the sea in the nineteenth century. Revival of 

primitive mode of spreading the Gospel. Spirit of the 

Roman church unchanged. Remonstrance of civilized 

world against this outrage on the rights of conscience. 



6 CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Faith of christians. The same in all ages. Priceless 
worth of civil and religious liberty. . . . 191 

APPENDIX. 
Testimony of living witnesses. ; 207 

Letter of Dr. Kalley from Malta to the Portuguese at 

New- York .214 

Correspondence of Dr. Kalley and Mr. Da Silva. . 221 



PREFACE. 



The recent violent persecution in Madeira has burst 
upon the christian world like a clap of thunder from a 
cloudless sky. Amid the light and refinement, and espe- 
cially the humane feeling of the 19th century, neither the 
church nor the world were prepared for such a demonstra- 
tion of the unchangeable and barbarous spirit of Rome as 
is presented in this persecution. The origin, severity and 
extent of it, in connection with the work of God in pro- 
gress among the Portuguese in Madeira, are too important 
to be omitted in the history of this century. We chronicle 
the events for the benefit of the present and of succeed- 
ing ages. The high moral lessons they teach should be 
written with " a pen of iron, and with the point of a dia- 
mond," on the hearts of all men. 

Having been brought into familiar intercourse with 
our persecuted brethren, and become personally acquainted 
with their sufferings for the sake of the Gospel, there may 
be some propriety (not to say an obligation) on the part 
of the writer to collect and spread out before the church 
and the world, the facts of their history and the nature of 
their trials. The record of these may have a tendency to 
awaken more active sympathy for the sufferers, and at the 
same time to raise the standard of vital piety in the chris- 



8 PREFACE. 

tian church. They may also open the eyes of all to see 
that the system of Romanism is essentially a system of 
persecution. This is now questioned by many in our coun- 
try. They appeal to the state of things in the United 
States, and to the kind feelings exhibited by Romanists 
here, and then confidently affirm that the Roman Catholic 
church would not persecute in this day. 

But we object to the trial of popery on our soil 
at present for various reasons. 1. Because she dare 
not now act out her system — she dare not now out- 
rage our laws and our opinions. 2. Because Romanists 
are, as yet, the minority of the population in the United 
States. 3. Because the restraining and conservative influ- 
ence of protestantism is felt on the system of popery 
among us. Finally, because the hierarchy of the Roman 
church could never consummate their plans in our coun- 
try, should they come forth in their true colors. 

For these, and other considerations, we say that this 
country is not at present the best place for the trial of po- 
pery. But we must visit other countries where we may 
see the operation of her system, removed from the effec- 
tive influence of protestantism. Such a view is presented 
to us by the facts in this volume. As these facts are un- 
questionable, they furnish an infallible test of the charac- 
ter of popery at the present time. May the lessons they 
teach not be lost upon our country and the world. May 
they hasten the return of the church of Christ to the pri- 
mitive standard of piety. 

In this narrative we have quoted from Dr. Kalley, who 



PREFACE. 9 

has been the principal agent that the great Head of the 
church has been pleased to employ in promoting the glo- 
rious and powerful work of the Spirit and the truth in 
Madeira. We have also quoted largely from Captain J. 
Roddam Tate, of the Royal British Navy. Captain Tate 
personally witnessed the sufferings, the patience, the un- 
shaken and triumphant faith of the converts who endured 
bonds and imprisonment and death for their adherence to 
the word of God. The statements of Captain Tate are re- 
ceived as worthy of all confidence by the European, es- 
pecially the religious press, and they are entitled to the. 
highest credence, whether we regard him as a gentleman 
or a christian. 

This unprovoked persecution, in this age, for the sim- 
ple reading and belief of the primitive doctrines of Chris- 
tianity, we think should command the attention of the 
civilized world. Protestant governments and protestant 
churches should remonstrate against it. They should lift 
their earnest and united voice for Liberty of conscience 
—Freedom to worship God — Freedom to circulate and to 
read the Bible in every Country. Such a remonstrance 
against persecution, and such a demand for Religious 
Freedom, would have a 'powerful influence in this day on 
every despotic government. Let this be done without 
delay. 

Should this volume contribute in any measure to the 
various results to which reference has been made, the de- 
sign of its publication will be answered. 



PERSECUTIONS AT MADEIRA. 



SECTION I. 

Madeira — Mental darkness for centuries — Dr. Kallcy's visit 
— Learns Portuguese — Schools opened — Results — Bible 
read — Proscribed by the Priests — Dr. Kalley's letter to 
Scotland — Schools suspended — Bible-readers imprisoned 
— Dr. Kalley in prison by a Law of the Inquisition of, 
1603 — Dr. Kalletfs Address before London Protestant 
Association — Sentence of Excommunication — Increase of 
Bible-readers, Sfc. <J-c. 

The Island of Madeira, that now excites so much 
interest in the Christian world, is in the Atlantic 
Ocean, nearly opposite Morocco, on the coast of 
Africa. It lies about 30 degrees north of the Equa- 
tor. Part of the Island is highly mountainous. Pico- 
Ruivo, the highest mountain peak, is upwards of 
5000 feet. The slopes of this mountain are covered 
with a rich soil, on which are found beautiful vine- 
yards and a luxuriance of vegetation. 

The thermometer usually ranges higher there 
than in the same latitude in this country. During 
the brief prevalence of the hot winds it ranges from 
90° to 95°. In the coldest season it is at 60°, and 
sometimes, but rarely falls, to 50°, 



12 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

The Island was called Madeira, which means 
timber, on account of the abundance of wood that 
grows upon it. Fire has been the most effective 
agent in removing the wood. At one time the woods 
were constantly burning for a period of seven years. 

Ever since its discovery by the Portuguese, in 
1419, it has been a part of the dominions of Portu- 
gal, and subject to the laws of the mother country^, 
The Roman Catholic, being the religion of the State, 
the Portuguese are forbidden to become Protestants, 
as is the case in all countries where the Roman church 
controls the civil power. From one century to an- 
other, the people have lived and died in the mc >t 
profound ignorance of the vital truths of Christia- 
nity. ~No one has stood up amid this dense men- 
tal or spiritual darkness and proclaimed to them 
the way of salvation. Such a mission has, within a 
few years, been committed by the great Head of the 
church to Dr. Kalley, a minister of the Free church 
of Scotland, and also a physician. In 1838 he ar- 
rived at Madeira, with the design of residing on the 
Island. Entirely ignorant of the Portuguese lan- 
guage, he resolved to obtain the knowledge of it, 
that he might, if God should prosper him, declare 
in their own tongue the wonderful works of God, 
Acts, 2 : 11. 

In a few hours after he landed he began his task. 
The manner in which he commenced proved him to 
be a practical man. He sallied forth from his dark 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 13 

room, entered a store, and inquired for a candle. 
No one understood him. When he pointed out the 
article, and heard the Portuguese name, he ever after 
knew what to say when he wanted a candle. This 
is an illustration of the course he adopted to gain a 
speedy knowledge of the names of all things essen- 
tial to life and comfort. 

He opened a school to teach the English lan- 
guage, with the design of acquiring the Portuguese. 
He early began to establish schools for the diffusion 
of education throughout the Island. From his own 
purse he paid the salaries of the teachers, and also 
furnished all the books for the schools. The desire 
to learn was very strong. These schools became 
very popular, and commenced a course of unparal- 
leled prosperity. Within a short period no less than 
eight hundred adults were taught in these schools, 
besides the children. The people were delighted and 
amazed at the benevolence of Dr. Kalley, who sus- 
tained the expense of all without any compensation. 

They gave the most pleasing evidence that they 
were anxious for instruction, and grateful to the kind 
stranger who was devoting his time and his money 
to their best interests. Even the municipal authori 
ties of the city of Funchal, the principal city on the 
Island, were constrained to pass a vote of thanks to 
Dr. Kalley for what they called " his disinterested 
acts of benevolence and philanthropy, such as the 
establishment of schools in different parts of the Isl- 
2 



14 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

and, at his own expense, furnishing the people with 
medical attendance and medicines gratuitously, &c. 

Dr. K. found the Portuguese in the most deplo- 
rable and almost incredible ignorance of the word of 
God. None of them had in their possession a copy 
of the Scriptures. A long time since a translation had 
been made of the Bible into the Portuguese by Anto- 
nio Pereira, a Romish priest. This had been sanctioned 
by the Queen and the Patriarch of Portugal. Eighty 
volumes of these are said to have been sent to Madei- 
ra free of duty for the use of the priests and a few 
government schools that were formed on the Island. 

The people were not only destitute of the Bible, 
but it was a rare case to find any one who knew there 
was a book that contained a history of Jesus Christ. 
Portuguese now in New- York, who have fled from 
the persecutions in Madeira, declare that they never 
heard of such a book until they heard of it from 
Dr. Kalley. 

Early in his efforts Dr. K. began, as he thought 
it would be wise to circulate the Portuguese Bible, 
for he had taken a supply from Scotland. It was 
the first book in which he taught the people to read 
in English. The people read with the deepest inte- 
rest a book so rare, so entirely new to them. Co- 
pies soon spread to the most distant parts of the 
Island. Of the progress of the pupils in the schools, 
an English clergyman, who was some time at Madei- 
ra, says : " I have been present at the examination 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 15 

of some of the scholars, and it was indeed most gra- 
tifying to witness the delight with which they exer- 
cise their newly acquired power, and the intense 
interest with which they listened to the instructions 
of Dr. Kalley. It is, I believe, no exaggeration to 
say, that hundreds of the people, who before were 
almost as ignorant as the beasts they drove r are now* 
intelligent readers of the Bible." 

Capt. Tate, of the British Navy, to whom we have 
already referred as a Scottish gentleman and a Chris- 
tian,* who has been an eye-witness of the things that 
have occurred at Madeira, thus narrates the influence 
of the circulation of the Scriptures among the people. 

" A desire to investigate the life-giving truths of 
the Gospel spread widely among the people. They 
began to hunger and thirst after knowledge. Their 
souls were touched by the Spirit of Christ. The 
seed took root and grew — was watered from on high, 
and soon became fruitful. To one sinner after an- 
other the Word came home with demonstration and 
with power. In the course of reading the Scriptures 
they met with many things inconsistent with the 
religious tenets which they had received from their 
fathers. Some applied to their priests for a solution 
of their difficulties, and, becoming gradually accus- 
tomed to the exercise of their mental powers, were 
often dissatisfied with the answers given to their in- 
quiries. The piiests were annoyed when they found 
themselves surpassed, as they frequently were, in the 

See Preface. 



16 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

knowledge of the word of God, by their own parish- 
ioners, and ere long began to oppose, both the schools 
and the Scriptures. One intelligent peasant, having 
seen that popery was inconsistent with revelation, 
became a protestant, and was soon after excommu- 
nicated.' * 

The priests became alarmed at the growing intel- 
ligence of the people. They saw that this practice of 
Bible-reading, if continued, would produce a vast 
change in the feelings and views of the Portuguese. 
Resolving to check this, the bishops and priests de- 
clared that " the Bible was a booh from hell," and 
the sentence of excommunication was thundered against 
all who read it. 

The leaven of persecution was spreading unseen, 
but extensively, for a long time. The first public 
outbreak occurred in 1843. By this time copies of 
the Word of God were found in the remotest part of 
the Island — numbers of Bible-readers had embraced 
its doctrines by faith, and were prepared to defend 
them in opposition to the dogmas of the Roman 
church. They were also ready (as subsequent facts 
will prove) to suffer and to die for the faith of the 
Gospel. 

Dr. Kalley saw that the storm of persecution 
was rising. He had been warned by friends in Scot- 
land to flee from it. But he was prepared to say 
with Nehemiah, " Should such a man as I flee V y 
He wrote a letter to Scotland that was published in 
the Glasgow Scottish Guardian, June 6, 1843. The 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 17 

extracts that follow give a lucid view of the state of 

things at Madeira at that time : 

! 

" At present I am threatened with imprisonment, 
and if the enemy be allowed to fulfil what is in his 
heart and on his tongue, I am likely to be in jail 
when you receive this. God may, however, inter- 
pose at any hour ; and if it be for His glory and the 
eternal welfare of the people that I should not go, 
he will open a way. If, on the contrary, it be for 
his glory and the advancement of the cause of Christ 
that I should be in bonds for his name, I should only 
have cause to rejoice in this. 

" You reminded me of the order given, when 
persecuted in one city to flee into another ; but you 
will also remember that it is said of the hireling that 
he fleeth, because he is an hireling, and the wolf 
comes, and catches the sheep. Were I to flee, I 
believe the poor sheep of Christ's fold would feel 
deeply discouraged, and the wolf would catch them. 
The Lord can deliver out of the paw of the lion, and 
of the bear. He would deliver them though I were 
away, but it is necessary for us always to examine 
well, and seek to know the will of God, for it is not 
for us to run whenever the lion growls. Let those 
who have no hope, or confidence in the Eternal, fear 
men that shall die, but let not us fear earth or hell. 
The woman drunk with the blood of saints may 
stretch out her blood-stained arm, but God will cut 
it off and destroy her. In a moment shall she be 
brought low. Be on your guard against her accursed 
witcheries, for it is true that though in some aspects 
she exhibits the malignity of hell, and the most hor- 
ribly appalling corruption, there are others in which 
2* 



18 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

she appears enticing, and she intoxicates myriads 
with the wine of her fornication. Her smiles are 
poisonous — her fancied colors cover rottenness — and 
he who is admitted to see her actions on a scene 
where mask is laid aside, may well take up the cry, 
How long, oh Lord, wilt thou not avenge the blood 
of thy saints ] When shall the breath of the Lord 
destroy this great system of deceit, abomination, cru- 
elty, and superstition? Let us blow the trumpet, 
and the walls will come down, for the trumpet sound 
of the Gospel is the very breath of the Lord, which 
shall destroy her. 

" At present there are two women and one man 
in prison for the sake of Jesus, and the probability 
is, that they will be kept in it for eight or ten months 
before their trial be brought on. There are two 
other men against whom a writ has been issued, but 
they are in hidings. The crime with which they are 
charged is apostacy : for joining the Church of Scot- 
land here, is heresy and blasphemy. I was included 
in the same charge, but the judge found no law on 
which to issue a writ against me at that time. A 
new process has been entered on ; many witnesses 
have been called ; one was threatened with imprison- 
ment if her evidence should not be to please the priests 
who were taking it ! Much of a similar nature has 
been unhesitatingly and unblushingly resorted to. 
The judge is brother-in-law to the governor, and 
both bitterly opposed to me. Two men are excom- 
municated, and many more threatened. Amidst all 
this, however, I am enabled to have two discourses 
daily, at which from thirty to one hundred indivi- 
duals are present, and exceedingly attentive, and 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 19 

there are more applications for admission to commu- 
nion with the Scottish Presbyterian Church.* 

" A cry has been raised against the Bible — some 
copies have been taken out of the people's houses by 
force — and generally the people are shocked by a 
denunciation of one of the seven Canons, that the Bi- 
bles should be burned. That Canon, on the very 
day he was so preaching, had (as I was assured by 
a priest) a child born to him ! So much for his vow 
of celibacy. 

" In point of fact, the Inquisition is established 
in Funchal. There is a secret tribunal of priests, 
who make investigations in secret ; and without any 
citation or hearing of the person, he is consigned to 
the civil power to be put in jail, against even their 
own ecclesiastical laws of civil rights," &c. &c. 

In the beginning of open hostilities to the work 
of instruction and of Bible-reading, a blow was aimed 
at the schools established and sustained purely by 
the benevolence of Dr. Kalley. Eight hundred 
adults, in a course of instruction in these schools, 
was indeed a formidable array against papal igno- 
rance and superstition. If popery is the friend of 
education, as her advocates in this country boldly 
affirm, what an occasion was here presented to ex- 
hibit her friendship. Her undisguised sentiments on 
this subject, where there are no protestant influences 
to control her, are seen in the following public docu- 

* The foreign residents have a small Scotch Presbyterian 
church, and are protected in their worship by a Treaty be- 
tween England and Portugal. 



20 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

merit issued for the entire suppression of these 
schools. 

Copy of an order in relation to the Schools, sent to 

the Registrars of each Parish. 
" Sir— 

u On the receipt of this, you will summon to your 
presence the teachers, male and female, of all the 
schools established and supported by Dr. Kalley, 
existing in your parish ; and in the presence of two 
witnesses, charge them henceforth not to teach any 
living being. If, after being duly notified, any of 
them should continue to teach — you can immediately 
send them to this administration in charge of two 
officers of police. You will cause this order to be 
faithfully executed, and report the result by Monday 
next, giving the names of all who have been notified, 
&c. God save you. 

" J. C. Terreira Uzel, 

" Administrator" 
At the same time the Bible-readers, or converts, 
were reported by the priests to the government, and 
the work of arrest and imprisonment commenced. 
The sufferings of the excommunicated peasant, to 
which reference has been made, and the violence 
with which the converts were treated, are vividly de- 
scribed by Capt. Tate. 

" Besides being excommunicated, the peasant re- 
ferred to was thus indicted for apostacy. He lay 
concealed for about a year ; and then, being con- 
vinced by the pleading of the public prosecutor in 
an analogous case, that the Charter of Portugal does 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 21 

not now sanction the ancient cruelties of popery, lie 
left his hiding place, and taught an evening school 
in the Lombo das Fayas, in the parish of St. Antonio 
de Serra. One night, during the hours of instruc- 
tion, a party of men, led by the Church beadle, came 
to the school with a fictitious warrant, for the appre- 
hension of the teacher. But as it was not issued by 
a legal authority, and it was brought moreover at an 
illegal hour, the teacher most properly refused to 
obey it. His scholars took part with him. Many 
of their relations and friends collected ; and the bear- 
ers of the illegal warrant were obliged to withdraw 
without the teacher, but also, it must be added, with- 
out having been subjected to the slightest violence. 

" The conduct of the scholars was represented as 
' sedition and resistance of justice,' and the Public 
Prosecutor denounced them as Miguelites, led on by 
Dr. Kalley ! On that day week the judge and 
public prosecutor, with a notary, and about sixty 
soldiers, proceeded at night to the Lombo das Fayas. 
The houses of the scholars, chiefly Bible-readers, 
were broken open — thirty men and women were 
taken prisoners — most of them were bound — many 
of them were beaten, and some of them very severe- 
ly — and their houses were given up to be sacked by 
the soldiers, who committed the most horrible atro- 
cities. With scarcely any clothes on (for they had 
been roused from their beds by the soldiers) twenty- 
two of them were conveyed to Funchal, in a Portu- 
guese Frigate, which to complete the melancho- 
ly farce, was sent to support the operations of the 
soldiers, (!!!) and there committed to prison. In 
prison they were denied liberty to read the Word of 
God ; and, though mass had not been performed in 



22 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

it for years, it was now found useful as a means of 
persecution, and they were driven to mass at the point 
of the bayonet. But in the midst of all, they rejoiced 
in being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, and 
the neighborhood of the prison often resounded with 
their sacred songs of praise. Even the liberty to 
sing these songs of praise was after a time denied 
them, while the other prisoners were still allowed 
to make the streets around echo with their ribald 
mirth ; and the priests enraged at their steady peace- 
fulness and joy, stirred up the enmity of the popu- 
lace against them ! 

" For upwards of twenty long months did these 
twenty-two Serra prisoners lie pining in the jail of 
Funchal, supported by English generosity. At the 
end of this period they were brought to trial, and 
the facts of the case proved to be exactly as stated 
above. - Though the judge and public prosecutor 
showed no disposition to be lenient towards them, 
they were honorably acquitted of every charge. But 
notwithstanding their full and honorable acquittal, 
they were remanded to prison till they should fully pay 
the jail fees. On their acquittal being pronounced, 
their enemies were exasperated to the highest de- 
gree, and threatened that, on their release from 
prison, they should all be murdered ; and open vio- 
lence soon broke forth. On the very evening of 
their liberation, when the host was being carried in 
procession past a poor protestant's house, his door 
was broken open and destroyed by persons who were 
accompanying the host ! On the same day another 
poor man, father of six or seven children, (and who 
had only five months before had his house wilfully 
burnt to the ground,) was quietly going home, when 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 23 

he was cruelly attacked and knocked down. His 
arm was broken by the first blow — four wounds in 
the head laid bare the bone — his nose was nearly 
knocked off, and the very women bit him, as he lay 
on the ground ; one of them all but tearing a piece 
from his cheek with her teeth ! The Serra prisoners 
had been all (with one exception) acquitted of every 
charge. It had been long known that that one could 
prove an alibi on the night of the alleged resistance 
of justice, and to prevent his escape a charge of 
heresy had been brought against him. Two days 
after they had all been acquitted on the general 
charge, he was tried on that of heresy, and, as if to 
appease the angry passions of the infatuated slaves 
of the priesthood, and to gratify the priests, he was 
actually condemned to five years' banishment to An- 
gola, for having declared that, while he deeply re- 
spected the Sacrament, lie could not believe that the 
consecrated bread is the very body of God. 

" The sentence of the prisoners from the Lombo 
das Fayas was given on the 4th June, about six 
weeks after my arrival in Madeira, and was evidently 
the cause of much excitement among the enemies of 
the Sacred Scriptures. The priests and their friends 
took advantage of such events to stir up the evil 
passions of the people. In 1843 the Impartial, one 
of the public newspapers, (edited at the time by the 
brother-in-law of the person who was then civil 
governor,) openly recommended the cudgel, as the 
best means of convincing the country people of the 
truth of their religion, because they were not accus- 
tomed to arguments, but could understand the power 
of a stick. The gallows and the stake were also at 
another time recommended in it, as the only remain- 



24 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

ing cure for heresy, and its columns were constantly 
filled with scurrilous and inflammatory remarks 
against the Bible and its readers. There was an 
associate too of the editor, who, having seemingly 
collected all the falsehood and abuse of the Imparcial 
for several preceding years, published it in 1845, in 
the form of a pamphlet, entitled, "An Historical 
Review of the Anti-Catholic Proselytism carried on 
by Dr. Kalley, in Madeira, since October, 1838." 
This was currently reported to have been printed at 
the recommendation of the bishop, and was pub- 
lished by subscription, just in time for him to carry 
copies of it to Lisbon in the beginning of 1846. On 
his leaving Madeira, he is said to have declared that 
he would get Dr. Kalley turned off the island, add- 
ing, that he would never return unless he succeeded 
in doing so. To this pamphlet Dr. Kalley wrote a 
most temperate, but unanswerable reply, proving 
from the words of his opponent's own book, that the 
charges he had adduced were unfounded. This re- 
ply was printed in Lisbon, and circulated there, and 
in Madeira in July, 1846. Its very gentleness ren- 
dered it more intolerable to the author of the attack, 
who, along with his friends, while they felt that some 
answer should be given to the doctor, did not at- 
tempt to do so by the press. It is hard to say what 
influence the friendship subsisting between him and 
the Administrator do Concelho may have had in 
the events related in the following pages. But when 
these events were first threatened, they were spoken 
of by some of his friends as the best answer that 
could be given" 

Such were the cruelties inflicted on these inoffen- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 25 

sive citizens, whose only crime was reading with the 
desire of obeying the word of God. Can any ques- 
tion, in view of such facts, whether the papal system 
is opposed to the circulation and reading of the Bible 1 
Can any question, whether that system will now, as 
in past ages, use physical force to compel men to 
embrace her dogmas, and to punish them for disobe- 
dience. Here you see the doctrine of the cudgel 
openly advocated in a paper, the editor being the 
brother-in-law of the governor of Madeira. 

Dr. Kalley, as we might suppose from the nature 
of the persecution, was the special object of the ven- 
geance of the government and of the priesthood. 
But how could he be arrested ? This was a per- 
plexing question to solve. The treaty between Eng- 
land and Portugal presented a formidable obstacle. 
That treaty guaranteed to the subjects of the respec- 
tive governments, "liberty to enjoy their religion 
without molestation in Madeira." The treaty and 
the present chartered constitution of Portugal pro- 
tected him. Dare they prosecute or arrest him, in 
violation both of the laws of England and of Portu- 
gal ? Yes, it can be done. The ingenuity and 
malice of the Romish hierarchy are not exhausted. 
They search, and find a law in their books older 
than the English treaty or the present constitution 
of Portugal. This is in the code of laws enacted by 
the Inquisition of Portugal in 1603. By virtue of 
3 



26 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

this, Dr. Kalley is arrested, tried, and condemned to 
prison. 

This law, which the christian world for one or 
two centuries has regarded as a dead letter, was 
found, when an opportunity occurred, to possess all 
the vitality and power it had when it was first enact- 
ed. Under its operation Dr. Kalley lay five long 
4 months in prison, as though the English treaty and 
the laws of Portugal were not in existence. 

We will here introduce to our readers an address 
of Dr. Kalley, before the Protestant Association of 
London, on the 6th of November, 1846. It will be 
read with intense interest, as it sheds much light on 
the spirit, the injustice, and the cruelty of this perse- 
cution. 

Dr. Kalley proposed the following resolution — 
" That the proceedings at Madeira, whether as re- 
gards the treatment of the native Portuguese or of 
British subjects, manifests a determination, on the 
part of popery, to crush all examination of, or seces- 
sion from her erroneous system." 

" Mr. Chairman, I have no power to * stir men's 
blood,' like a reverend gentleman here, nor would I 
seek to do so. I come merely as a witness in a 
court of justice, to tell truly and dispassionately 
I what I have seen — to give testimony on the great 
question, — Is popery changed, or is she not ? 

" I beg to refer to a document issued by the 
highest ecclesiastical authority in Madeira, dated 
three and a-half years ago, and published from all 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 27 

the pulpits in Madeira. It was issued by Sebastian 
Casimero Medina e Vasconcellas, Vicar- General of 
the bishopric of Funchal, in the name of the Bishop 
Don Januario Vicente Camacho. It was addressed 
to ■ all vicars, and curates, public prosecutors, and 
officers of justice, to all persons, civil and ecclesi- 
astical, of every rank and degree/ and ' required, 
and commanded them not to touch, or hold commu- 
nication with Francisco Pires Soares and Nicolau 
Tolentino Vieyra,' who had dared to leave the com- 
munion of Rome, and join tke Presbyterian commu- 
nion at Madeira. These two men were declared to 
be ' excommunicated by the curse of Almighty God, 
and of the blessed St. Peter and St. Paul, with 
those of Gomorrah and Sodom, and with Korah, 
Dathan, and Abiram, whom the earth swallowed alive 
for their disobedience.' This document goes on to 
say, — ' Let no one give them fire, water, bread, or 
any other thing that may be necessary for their sup- 
port. Let no one pay them their debts. Let no 
one support them in any case which they may bring 
before a court of justice. Let all put them aside as 
rotten and excommunicated members, separated from 
the bosom and union of the Holy Mother Catholic 
Church, and as rebels and contumacies.' It further 
excommunicated, ipso factp, all who did not comply 
with these commands, — every debtor who should 
pay these men their just debts, every judge who 
should dare, in a court of law, to do them justice, 
every charitable person who should give them water, 
fire, or any thing necessary to existence ; and the 
excommunication against those who should assist 
them or do them justice, implies the very same pen- 
alty as was imposed upon them. 



28 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

" There is so strong a disinclination in this coun- 
try to believe any evil of popery ; that, no doubt, 
we shall be told, that that excommunication was a 
mere form, and meant nothing. Let it be remem- 
bered, however, that from every parish pulpit in 
Madeira, it was announced, that no man should pay 
these persons their just debts ; and not only were 
they authorized not to pay them, but were actually 
threatened with excommunication if they did. Does 
this mean nothing ] 

" Let it be known, that the persons who were so 
excommunicated were obliged to hide themselves 
from the light of the sun, for months, that they 
were at last compelled to tear themselves from the 
bosom of their families, and leave their father-land ; 
and that they are at the present day wanderers in a 
strange land, one being in the East, and the other in 
the West Indies.* After this let every impartial 
man judge whether that excommunication was a 
mere form and meant nothing. 

" To show that the priest's interference with the 
law, and malediction against every judge who should 
do justice to an excommunicated person, is not an 
unmeaning form : I beg to relate a case which oc- 
curred in a court of justice during this present year. 
Two men were partners as sawyers of wood; one 
was the owner of two- thirds of the property, and the 
other of one-third. The former had learned to read, 
and had received the precious truth, that Christ died 
for our sins, and that his blood cleanseth from all 
sin, and had renounced the worship of the host, vir- 

* He is now in the office of the American Protestant 
Society. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 29 

gin, images, and pictures ; the other still adhered to 
these forms. The owner of two-thirds wished to 
dissolve partnership, and proposed to pay the other 
his one-third of the property, and retain it all, or 
that the owner of the one-third should pay him his 
two-thirds, and retain it. These propositions being- 
refused, he then proposed that the whole of the pro- 
perty should be sold, and the proceeds divided be- 
tween them ; this also being refused, he brought the 
case before the judge. The owner of the one -third 
had nothing to advance but that the other had not 
been at mass or confession for two years, and of this 
he brought a certificate from the priest of the parish. 
The judge considered the whole case, especially the 
priest's certificate, and then he passed sentence, that 
as the owner of two- thirds had not been at mass or 
confession for two years, he was virtually excommu- 
nicated ; and being excommunicated he was incompe- 
tent to appear in any court of justice ! He, there- 
fore, gave the verdict in favor of the owner of the 
one-third, leaving him with the property, and sen- 
tenced the other to pay all the expenses of the pro- 
cess ! and from that sentence there was no appeal. 
It was published in the Madeira newspapers in the 
end of July, 1846. 

" I cannot, at this late hour, enlarge on the pro- 
ceedings of popery in Madeira; I would merely 
glance, for a few moments, at one or two of her 
atrocities. 

" On the 31st of May, 1845, a man was tried for 
having had a meeting of his relations in his own 
house for reading the Scriptures and prayer, and for 
having refused to pay homage to a piece of cloth 
fixed upon a stick, and called the Holy Ghost. For 
3* 



30 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

these crimes he was sentenced to six months' impri- 
sonment in the jail of Funchal. When I was in jail, 
in 1843, there was no mass said there, nor had there 
been for years ; but in 1844 there were from twenty 
to thirty prisoners in the jail, who being convinced 
that there is a God, and but one, felt assured that a 
bit of bread is not that God, and whose hearts re- 
volted against paying divine homage to any created 
thing. When the priests found they had in their 
power victims whom they hoped to compel to offend 
their God, it was required that mass should be said 
in the jail every Sunday and holiday, and that all the 
prisoners should be obliged to attend. The man 
who was condemned for having had the meeting in 
his house, and for not worshipping that which they 
blasphemously called the Holy Ghost, was ordered 
to mass with the rest on the first of June. He re- 
fused to go. The jailers attempted to force him, but 
in vain. Soldiers were called. He grasped the iron 
bars of the jail window, in order to prevent himself 
from being dragged to mass. He was struck with 
the butt-ends of their muskets. His grasp was over- 
come by violence, and at the point of the bayonet he 
was driven to what he regarded as idolatry. He 
went ; but did not kneel there ; he could not. After 
mass he felt that he had done wrong, even though 
compelled ; he felt that it would have been better 
that his blood should have been shed there, than that 
he should have offended his God ; and he resolved, 
that on the ensuing Sabbath no power on earth 
should compel him to attend. During that week 
he conversed with many of his fellow-prisoners, and 
having received more instruction than they, he rea- 
soned with them from the Scriptures. On the 8th 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 31 

of June twenty prisoners refused to go to mass, and 
no power could force them ; blows and bayonets 
failed. What was the result 1 There is, in the jail 
of Funchal, a place called the Bomba. Respecting 
that place, I may mention that the day after my 
release from prison, I sent a friend to distribute 
bread to the prisoners, and on coming out of the 
Bomba, he gave unequivocal manifestations of his 
being sick, and nearly fainted — it is a most abomina- 
bly disgusting den of filth. In that place there 
were, on the 7th of June, fifteen persons confined 
for various offences ; and on the 8th, when the pri- 
soners refused to go to mass, there were five more 
added. I wished to go and take the dimensions of 
it, but could not get admission, and asked a friend to 
take them for me. He did so ; and the paper he 
brought to me stated that the Bomba is twelve feet 
square, by eleven feet high ; and in that loathsome 
room twenty men were confined night and day. For 
what ] For refusing to pay that homage to a bit of 
bread, which man owes to his God ! 

" We are told, christian friends, that popery -is 
changed, that she persecutes no more, that there is 
not a country on earth where popery now persecutes, 
and that she is so changed that she would never wish 
to persecute. We answer, popery does not drag out 
her victims and burn them at the stake in open day : 
no, for as yet she dares not. But she does what she 
dares ; those who will not obey her despotic com- 
mands she throws into the Bomba, that there they 
may endure a death, far more lingering, and far 
more horrid, than at the stake. Let men look into 
the Bomba, in Funchal jail, and answer whether po- 
pery does not now persecute. 



32 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

" Reference has been made to the Scriptures, 
and to the desire of Romanists, and others, to ex- 
clude the Bible, from the schools, popery has been 
long known as the enemy of knowledge, but espe- 
cially of Biblical knowledge. In England she wishes 
to persuade men that she is not the enemy of the 
Bible itself, but only of spurious and adulterated 
editions, and she made a similar profession in Ma- 
deira. In 1840, the bishop expressed a wish to 
see a copy of the Bible that was being put into 
the hands of his people. One was gladly sent to 
him. On the 21st of May he placed it in the hands 
of three canons of the cathedral of Funchal, and ap- 
pointed them, as a Commission, to examine it, and 
to report to him, as to its correctness or incorrect- 
ness. Two years and four months afterwards he 
published a pastoral, wherein he stated that that 
Commission had reported ( that there was scarcely 
a verse of any chapter either of the Old or New 
Testament which was not more or less notably adul- 
terated ;' and he added, that he ' excommunicated 
ipso facto all who should read those Bibles/ We 
have already seen what excommunication implies ; 
and we now find the bishop coming forward, with 
all his authority, and excommunicating, ipso facto, 
all who read those Bibles. But they were declared 
to be of a spurious and adulterated edition. On 
reading his pastoral, I was confounded ; I did not 
believe that the British and Foreign Bible Society 
had issued an unfaithful reprint of Pereira's Bible, 
and could not suppose it possible that three canons 
should risk their character by stating a bare- faced 
falsehood. What was my surprise, in finding, upon 
getting a copy of the Lisbon edition of the Bible, 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 33 

and comparing it with that of the Bible Society, that 
in the Gospel of St. Matthew there was not an alte- 
ration, in any verse of that book. I immediately 
published an answer to the pastoral, advising that his 
excellency the bishop should suspend his curse on 
the Word of God till it could be seen whether the 
other books were as correct as St. Matthew's Gos- 
pel. In consequence of the pastoral, the judge came 
to the jail with the public prosecutor, and other 
judiciary officers, and ordered all the boxes of the 
prisoners to be searched for Bibles ; and he took 
away every copy of the Scriptures that he found 
there ! The chief police magistrate went to a school, 
supported by English charity, and took away thirty 
Bibles, and all the Testaments that he could find ! 
During the course of the ensuing week, the Com- 
mission published an answer to my observations. In 
it, they re-asserted what they had said ' that there 
was scarcely a verse of any chapter, either of the 
New or Old Testament, which was not adulterated/ 
The comparison of the two editions went on ; up- 
wards of 5000 verses were examined ; and the result 
was, a complete refutation of the Commissioners 1 
Report. Within two months after the bishop's curse 
on these books of God, there came from Lisbon an 
order from the Portuguese government, in which 
Her Majesty the Queen approved of these very Bi- 
bles, and stated that they were approved of by the 
archbishop also. But, notwithstanding this, the 
bishop's curse still rests upon the book of God ; the 
priests, from the pulpit, declare that it is a book 
from hell, and should be burned with the hands that 
handle it : and when my house was attacked, on the 
ninth of August, 1846, every copy of the Sacred 



34 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 






Scriptures which was found was actually thrown 
into a fire, on the public street, by the mob, when 
they ascertained that their expected human victims 
had escaped their outrage. Suppose that in the pre- 
sent distressed state of Ireland a man should go 
through one of her most famishing villages, selling 
bread at a reduced price to those that could pay for 
it, and giving it gratis to those who could not, and 
that some, whose pecuniary interests were interfered 
with by the gratuitous distribution, should seek to 
persuade the people that the bread was poisoned, 
and should endeavor to incite them to trample it 
under foot and murder their benefactor, who would 
not call such conduct atrocious 1 But suppose, fur- 
ther, some of the famishing creatures to have tasted 
the bread, and found that it not only did them no 
harm, but that it actually restored their drooping 
limbs, and gave them new life ; if, then, these selfish 
and cruel tyrants were to snatch it from their hands 
and cast it into the fire, and then beat, imprison, and 
excommunicate them merely for feeding upon it and 
giving it to their dying children, what words could 
we find powerful enough to characterize their guilt % 
Their, guilt, however, would be as nothing, compared 
with the guilt of those who snatch the bread of life 
from men who are eagerly seeking to feed upon it, 
that their souls may live for ever." 

Who is not astounded in this country, at the 
bare recital of such facts, near the middle of the 
19th century ! Who does not see here, the same 
malignant spirit that characterized the darkest days 
of the Inquisition ? When has there been exhibited 
deeper hatred against the Bible and its readers % 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 35 

When have the disciples of Christ been treated with 
greater, or more unjust severity. 

Dr. Kalley refers particularly to the sentence of 
excommunication pronounced against two of the con- 
verts. To gratify the interest, or curiosity of the 
reader, we here spread out before him, this pompous 
and unjust sentence as it was originally uttered : — 

" Sebastio Cazemiro Medinna Vasconcellas, Leader of 
the Choir in the Cathedral, Synedic Examinator, 
Vicar- General of the Bishopric of Funchal, in the 
Island of Madeira, for the Most Excellent and 
Reverend Don Januaro Vicente Comacho of her 
Majesty's Council, Dean of the Cathedral of Fun- 
chal, Commander of the Order of Christ, Bishop 
Elect of Castle Branco, Temporal Governor and 
Vicar- General of the Bishop of Funchal, Porto 
Santo and Arguinot — 

" To all the reverend vicars and curates, assistants 
and chaplains, as well as to all judges and justices of 
peace, to the delegates of the attorney-general, to the 
administrators of councils, and all officers of justice, 
and to all ecclesiastical and secular persons of every 
degree and condition in all the bishopric and out of 
it, whom this my letter may reach, who may hear it, 
or get notice of it any way, health and peace for ever 
in Jesus Christ our Lord, who is the true remedy and 
salvation of all. I make known to you, that, having 
proceeded to an examination of witnesses, as compe- 
tent to my office, it was proved by them, and con- 
firmed by my sentence, that Francisco Pires Soares, 
married, and Nicolau Tolentino Vieyra, bachelor, both 
of this bishopric, residing in the parish of Santa Lu- 



36 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

zia, near the parish church, apostatized from the 
union and bosom of the Holy Mother Roman Catho- 
lic Church, and became sectaries of the Presbyterian 
communion, incurring by this ecclesiastical censure 
and canonical punishment of the greater excommu- 
nication. The censures requiring to be aggravated, I 
ordered this present letter to be written, by which I 
require and command, under pain of the greater ex- 
communication, all ecclesiastics, ministers and officers 
of justice, and others above-mentioned, as soon as 
they shall have notice of it, not to touch or hold 
communication with those who are excommunicated 
by the curse of Almighty God, and of the blessed 
St. Peter and St. Paul, with those of Gomorrah and 
of Sodom, Dathan and Abiram, whom the earth 
swallowed alive for their great sins and disobedience. 
Let none give them fire, water, bread, or any other 
thing that may be necessary to them for their sup- 
port. Let none pay them their debts. Let none 
support them in any case which they may bring ju- 
dicially. Let all put them aside as rotten and ex- 
communicated members, separated from the bosom 
and union of the Holy Mother Catholic Church, and 
as rebels and contumacious, for if any do the contra- 
ry, which God forbid, I lay, and consider as laid, 
upon their persons, the penalty of the greater ex- 
communication. Therefore were their names and 
surnames expressly declared; and that all may know 
this, I order the reverend parish priests to publish 
this at the meeting on the first Sabbath or holy day, 
and to affix it on the door of the church, from which 
let no man take or tear it under pain of excommuni- 
cation, until, by making satisfaction for all, they 
merit the benefit for absolution. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 3t 

Given in Funchal, under the seal of the vicar- 
general and my signature, on the 27th of April, 1843. 
Jacinto Monteiro Cabrae, Writer to the Ecclesiastical 
Council, wrote this. 

Sebastio Cazemiro Medina e Vas. 

It is worthy of remark, that neither the thunders 
of excommunication, nor the sufferings inflicted on 
the Bible -readers, arrested the work of conversion. 
The friends and readers of the Bible increased. Even 
when Dr. Kalley, and many of the converts were in 
prison, the work of God, in the conversion of the 
Portuguese, went forward. New converts, not inti- 
midated by the sufferings of their brethren, avowed 
their faith in the word of God, and their purpose to 
read and obey it, whatever might be the sacrifice. 

Thus did God cause the wrath of man to praisa 
him, and the purposes and violence of the wicked 
to aid the cause they sought to destroy. Month 
after month, and year after year, these Bible-readers 
suffered " bonds and imprisonments ;" " but the 
word of God was not bound," True, it was torn in 
pieces,, it was thrown into the fire — it was interdicted 
from the people, yet free and pure as the atmos- 
phere of heaven ; its influence was far more powerful 
and effective than all the efforts of its enemies. 

We will now leave these sufferers, in the prison 
with the common criminals of the country ; there 
they are, annoyed both day and night with the vile 
songs of those wicked men, while they are forbidden 

4 



38 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

to sing any hymn of praise to God. In the midst 
of these abandoned men we leave them, while we 
call your attention to the history of one of their 
number. 



SECTION II. 



Mrs. Maria Joaquina Alves tried, condemned and sentenced 
to be executed, fyc. <$•£. 

Mrs. Alves, wife of Manuel Alves, was one of 
the eminent Christians of this persecuted flock. Dr. 
Kalley says : " She is an intelligent, clear-minded 
woman, quite willing to die if it is the Lord's will/' 
Her godly life and her fervent prayers attracted the 
attention of the enemies of the Bible and of vital 
piety. They resolved to make an example of her, 
in order to inspire others with terror. 

She was taken from her family of seven children, 
the youngest an infant, and committed to prison the 
31st of January, 1843. Month after month she was 
confined in the gloomy prison at Funchal, a most 
loathsome place for human beings, and especially for 
females. This was for years the home of this Chris- 
tian woman, who breathed only the spirit of prayer 
for the salvation of her persecutors. The time of her 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 39 

trial before the court was postponed, it would seem 
to protract her sufferings, and compel her to recant 
and return to the Romish Church. But her faith 
and courage were not to be shaken by such means 
She knew in whom she believed. For her faith she 
was prepared to abide the consequences. j 

The priests and officers of government, seeing! 
the firmness of her faith, and having little or no hope 
of a change in her sentiments, were strongly and 
desperately excited. They resolved that she should 
suffer the highest penalty of law. The long-antici- 
pated day of trial finally arrived, on the 2d of May, 
1844. Mrs. Alves was with due formality brought 
before the court. Judge Negrao presiding. Her in- 
dictment was read. There were three char-res 
against her — apostacy, heresy and blasphemy. She 
was tried only on the charge of blasphemy. This 
was that she refused to say that the consecrated 
host, or wafer in the hands of the priest, is the real 
body and the real blood of Jesus Christ, and refused 
to adore it. The question was put to her by the 
Judge : — Do you believe the consecrated host is the 
real body and real blood of Jesus Chribi ? Mrs. 
Alvers knew that by the decision of the court her 
life would depend on the answer she gave. Know- 
ing this, what shall we say of the courage and faith 
of a christian lady who could reply to the court 
with distinct utterance, l( I do not. believe it." 

AY hat was now to be done. It seems almost in- 



40 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

credible that the spirit of persecution could be so 
rampant and barbarous in this age as to condemn an 
innocent female to be publicly executed. But who 
can penetrate the depths of human depravity, or 
define the limits of ungodly men. 

Immediately after her frank avowal, the judge 
arose and passed sentence upon her in the following 
memorable language : 

Sentence of Death passed upon Maria Joaquina 
Alves f by Judge Negrao. 

u In view of the answers of the jury and the dis- 
cussions of the cause, &c. it is proved that the 
accused, Maria Joaquina, perhaps forgetful of the 
principles of the holy religion she received in her 
first years, and to which she still belongs, has main- 
tained conversations and arguments condemned by 
the church ; maintaining that veneration should not 
be given to images ; denying the real existence of 
Christ in the sacred host ; the mystery of the most 
Holy Trinity : blaspheming against the most holy 
Virgin, the mother of God, and advancing other ex- 
pressions against the doctrines received and followed 
by the Roman Catholic apostolic church, expound- 
ing these condemned doctrines to different persons, 
thus committing the crimes of heresy, blasphemy, &c. 
I condemn the accused, Maria Joaquina, to suffer 
DEATH as provided in the law ; the costs of the 
process, &c. to be paid out of her goods. 

" Funchal Oriental, in public court, May 2d, 
1844. 

n Jose Perreira Leito Pitta Ortegueira Negrao, 
judge, &c." 






CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 41 

Such is the sentence, and such it must be to the 
end of time. The faithful records of history will 
perpetuate it through every generation. 

Let the reader remember that this is not the 
sentence of the dark ages, when Hildebrand, or some 
other prodigy of wickedness, was at the head of the 
Roman Catholic Church. It was passed within six 
years of the middle of this century. It was at the 
very time when the Romish hierarchy in the United 
States were so strongly advocating chaiity and libe- 
rality — when their papers were filled with denuncia- 
tions against the bigotry and persecuting spirit of 
protestants. Let it also be noted that Mrs. Alves 
was not condemned for murder, or treason, or any 
other crime to which the death penalty is annexed. 
It was simply and only because she would not say 
that a piece of bread, or wafer, in the hands of the 
priest, is the real body and real blood of Jesus Christ 
Because she would not declare before the court what 
she knew to be false and absurd, therefore she was 
condemned to die. 

The subsequent history will prove that this sen- 
tence was something more than a mere formality. 
Immediately after it was passed she was remanded 
to prison, there to await the time of execution. 

The British subjects then on the island resolved 
to make an effort to save the life of this excellent 
woman, so unjustly doomed to die. They drew up 
a petition to the Queen of Portugal, praying that the 



42 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

sentence might be reversed, and this christian lady 
be acquitted. 

At the same time an appeal was taken from 
the decision of the court in Madeira, and carried 
over to the higher court of Relacao, at Lisbon. Mrs. 
Alves was kept in prison during the tedious process 
consequent on this appeal. It was taken to Lisbon 
in May, 1844, but the decision of the court did not 
reach Madeira until April, 1845. 

The decision of the court of Relacao was of a 
very peculiar character. In the first place, " the 
court confirmed the sentence appealed from, that is, 
the sentence of death for blasphemy, heresy and 
apostacy. But the defendant had been tried only on 
the charge of blasphemy. She could not be com- 
petently condemned for heresy and apostacy. And, 
therefore, they commuted the sentence, and thus 
plainly declaring that if she had been indicted or 
tried for the other crimes, they would have confirmed 
the sentence in all its horrible extent." 

From this it appears that her life was saved in 
consequence of an error in the court below in the 
opinion of the court at Lisbon, and not on the ground 
that she did not deserve to die. In this case the 
court commuted the punishment of death to impri- 
sonment. In consideration of the great length of 
time she had been in prison, the sentence was impri- 
sonment for three months from the date of the sen- 
tence, with a fine of six dollars. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 43 

The time defined by this decision was not to ter 
minate her sufferings. When the three months were 
expired she was kept in prison to pay the expenses 
of her prosecution and imprisonment. Month after 
month she was there. She was actually detained 
there twenty-three months on the sentence of three 
months' imprisonment. In all, this excellent christian 
lady was shut up in that dismal prison between two 
and a-half and three years. 

And for what was all this suffering inflicted ? 
Dr. Kalley, in writing to London, says : " Maria Joa- 
quina, wife of Manuel Alves, who had been in prison 
a year or more was condemned to death. Yes, con- 
demned to death in 1844, for denying the absurd 
dogma of transubstantiation, refusing to participate 
in the idolatry of worshipping the wafer idol, and (in 
the words— if the accusation ' blaspheming against 
the images of Christ and the mother of God ;') in 
plain language, refusing to give that worship to 
senseless blocks of wood and stone which is due 
only to God." 

Mrs. Alves, and her sister, who was also confined 
with her, were finally released from prison, and she 
was restored to her family after this long and painful 
separation. She, with her husband, children and 
sister, fled from Madeira to Trinidad. Some of her 
children are amonof the Portuo-uese exiles now in 
New-York. From them we have heard the sad nar- 
rative of her sufferings, and also of the agony of her 



44 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

family, when they were daily anticipating her exe- 
cution. 

This beloved family are now looking for a home 
in our country. God grant that they may here find 
rest from the violence of persecution, and may go 
down peacefully to the grave with the heaven-inspir- 
ing hope of the resurrection from the dead and of 
an eternal inheritance in heaven. 

Mrs. Alves may be regarded as a living martyr, 
for she has given the strongest evidence of her wil- 
lingness to sacrifice her life for the faith of the Gos- 
pel. She is also a living witness, whose testimony, 
worthy of all confidence, clearly proves that popery, 
where she has the power, will put to death those 
who dare disbelieve the absurd dogma of transub- 
stantiation. As popery is now waning we hope that 
no other chapter like this will be among the things 
yet to be written. This barbarous sentence, with the 
other violent acts at Madeira, are, we trust, the death 
struggles of that power under whose cruel inflictions 
millions have suffered. 

Of the family of Mrs. Alves, now with us, is a 
daughter sixteen years of age, a son nineteen, and a 
married daughter whose husband has been confined 
three years in the prison because he read the Bible 
in his family, and would not believe that the wafer 
is the real body and real blood of Jesus Christ. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 45 



SECTION III. 

Renewal of Persecutions — New Governor — Jesuit at the head 
of the mob — Arsenio Nicos De Silva insulted — Escapes 
the mob — Misses Rutherford's house violently assaulted — 
Converts beaten — British Protestants flee to the vessels — 
Lady died in the Bay — Houses of Portuguese converts 
mobbed and plundered — Inmates flee to the mountains* 

The violence of the storm seemed to abate after 
the outrages we have described, but it had not yet 
passed away. Other and darker clouds were gather- 
ing in the horizon, and preparing to discharge their 
destructive elements on all the Bible-readers with 
tenfold vengeance. The converts were kept in pris- 
on and a constant warfare was continued on the part 
of the priests against protestant christians. They 
were annoyed and persecuted in the various forms 
that ingenuity and malice could invent. At last a 
favorable opportunity presented for openly renewing 
the work of persecution. 

A new governor was appointed. Before his ap- 
pointment as governor of the island he had said that 
if he ever filled that office he would not rest until 
Dr. Kalley was driven from the island and this work 
was put down. No sooner was he inducted into his 
highly responsible office than the work of persecu- 
tion began with increased vigor and severity. 

Before we speak of the violent treatment of Dr. 



46 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

Kalley, we invite attention to the course adopted to 
drive other protestants from Madeira. The Misses 
Rutherfords were English ladies, residing in a place 
called " Quinta das Angustias." These ladies were 
known to be protestants, who were the friends of the 
Bible-readers. They had permitted some of the Por- 
tuguese females to come and read the Bible in their 
house. Hence the purpose of the priests to compel 
them to leave the island. The chief agent in this 
disgraceful work of persecuting innocent females was 
Conego Telles, a Jesuit of high standing in the Roman 
church. This man had the distinguished honor, or 
rather the shameful distinction of leading the mob in 
an attack upon the house of defenceless ladies. 

As Capt. Tate was an eye-witness of these events 
we prefer that he should describe them in his own 
language: 

" Conego Telles, a dignitary of the church of Rome 
and a Jesuit, educated in England, was the first to excite 
the mob to open violence. This he did on the 2d of Au- 
gust, 1846,on the occasion of Miss Rutherford giving per- 
mission to a Portuguese gentleman to meet a few friends 
in the " Quinta das Angustias," which she was occupying 
with her sisters, as a summer residence. The object of 
the meeting was prayer, praise, reading the sacred Scrip- 
tures, and the perusal of a letter from a common friend in 
England. Between thirty and forty came together for 
these ends, on the morning of the 2d of August, and at 
half-past twelve the meeting separated. On Senhor Arse- 
nio reaching the outer gate of the grounds, he met Con- 
ego Telles and a younger priest in canonicals, with a mob 
of people. The canon stood in his way, and thrust an 
image in his face, bidding him to ' kiss it,' and ' adore his 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 47 

God.' Senhor Arsenio calmly replied, * why do you inter- 
fere with a peaceable citizen?' The priest then called 
him ' heretic,' ' renegade,' ' apostate,' with other irritating 
expressions, which failed, however, in calling forth any 
similar ones in return, for 'when he was reviled, he revil- 
ed not again.'* The next act of the canon was a direct 
breach of the peace. He violently knocked off Senhor Ar- 
senio's hat, and by his gestures and action excited and 
urged on the mob to similar conduct. At length, after 
much ill treatment, the gentleman escaped through the 
mob, together with three or four others who ventured to 
follow. Shortly afterwards, a young man, attempting to 
leave, was brutally attacked, and with difficulty retreated 
again within the gates. The rest were compelled, for per- 
sonal safety, to remain, and it was not the will, nor could 
it have been in the heart of an English or a christian lady, 
to force them from the premises, to experience the certain 
cruelty of a mob, led on and exasperated by a priest and 
canon of their cathedral church. The whole day the gate 
was besieged, and the most threatening language used 
against the Misses Rutherfurd and the people under their 
roof. During the afternoon Dr. Kalley, who was profes- 
sionally attending Miss Rutherfurd's invalid sister, but was 
unaware of any disturbance, till near the house, rode up 
to the gate ; and, as he had heard that the patient was not 
so well on the previous evening, felt that, though it might 
offend the mob, it was his duty to enter. The mob hooted 
him, and used many insulting threats as he went in ; and 
to these, threatening actions were added as he came out. 
They seized and violently beat his groom, declaring they 
would kill him if he dared to follow his master. He ac- 
cordingly ran home, trembling and aghast, to Santa Luzia, 
with the report that he had left his master in the midst of 
a murderous mob. The doctor himself rode through the 
mob unhurt, some even taking off their hats to him, and 
one or two muttering their disapprobation of ■ such a re- 
ward for doing good.' The mob would no doubt have re- 

* 1 Peter, 2 : 23 



48 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

tired before night, and dispersed, had they not been urged 
to remain by the unholy example of the canon, who, in- 
stead of leaving the neighborhood, continued with other 
priests to go about among the crowd till night. It is also 
worthy of remark, that though the police were on the spot 
during the afternoon, they did not disperse the mob, nor 
was even an attempt made to do so before leaving the 
ground at sunset ! There was no patrol during the night! 
no police kept in readiness to repress any outbreak on the 
part of the people. 

" Having heard, late in the afternoon, of the painful si- 
tuation in which the Misses Rutherfurd were placed by 
the threatening attitude of the mob I rode down to the 
Angustias, with a view to afford them any protection, 
counsel or comfort in my power, as well as to watch the 
further motions of the people. I arrived at half-past six, 
when I found that the police had been withdrawn. The 
canon, however, with various other priests, was on the 
ground, and an unusual number of persons w T ere walking 
and talking in the neighborhood. I accordingly resolved 
upon returning at ten, and remaining in the house during 
the night, should my presence be required by the ladies 
under the circumstances in which they were placed. Soon 
after ten I returned, at which time Conego Telles was seen 
in the road, with a crowd of people talking in groups 
around the gate. Through them I was permitted to ride 
in quietly, but not, as w T e afterwards discovered, without 
much consultation on the subject amongst the ringleaders 
of the mob. Being out on the balcony about eleven 
o'clock, when the silvery moon was shining peacefully 
through the trellis of the verandah, and all nature quietly 
reposing in the solemn stillness of the night, the sound of 
human voices warned us that the mob had come within 
the gates. We now perceived a number of men armed 
with bludgeons standing at the front door, and at once 
warned them off the grounds. Miss Rutherfurd addressed 
them in Portuguese, using every argument to induce them 
to retire. She reminded them that their appearance there 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 49 

at such an hour, and in such an attitude, was contrary to 
all law, while their conduct was seriously endangering the 
life of an invalid lady. She cautioned them to beware of 
illegal proceedings ; she told them that they might sur- 
round the house and wait for daylight, or send for the po- 
lice if they suspected there was any criminal within, for to 
the police, with a legal warrant, she would open the door 
the instant the sun was up. The people were at the same 
time assured that the case would be represented in the 
morning to her Britannic majesty's representative at Fun- 
chal. To this they replied that ' they did not care for the 
English consul ' — ' there was no law for the Calvinists ' — 
and * they could appeal to the governor?* ' They had a 
right, they said, ' to do what they liked, and all the Portu- 
guese in that house should die.' They then insisted on 
immediate entrance, or that the Portuguese should be de- 
livered up to their vengeance. Both were, of course, re- 
fused, when they declared their intention to force their 
way ; with the threat that if they did so every soul they 
found within should die. A low whistle was given by the 
ringleaders, which was immediately answered by a further 
rush of men, who now amounted to fifty or sixty, armed 
with clubs and bludgeons. Seeing all remonstrance vain, 
that the people were partially intoxicated by liquor, and 
were now planting their comrades in all directions round 
the Quinta, we retired from the balcony into the house, 
shutting and bolting the windows as we went. Having 
done this we repaired to the chamber of the invalid, and 
committed ourselves unreservedly to the care of Him who 
alone could overrule the will of His enemies, and make 
the wrath of man to praise him. 

" In a short time the smashing of the windows, and 
crash of the bludgeons on the door, announced that the 
money and liquor of the enemy were fearfully doing their 



* The subsequent conduct of the governor fully confirmed 
the ideas the ruffians had been led to form of him. 



50 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

work * Amidst the yells of the mob, the cry was still 
heard for admittance ; when Miss Rutherfurd again ad- 
dressed them in that calm, gentle, temperate, yet firm and 
dignified manner which distinguished her conduct through 
the night. One of the ringleaders desired her to speak in 
English, but she answered that ' she spoke not for his ear 
only, but for those of all that were present.' She then, in 
the most courteous way begged them to withdraw, urging 
the danger they were incurring by so acting in violation 
of the law. ' Nao ha leis pelos Calvinistas,' (there are no 
laws for Calvinists,) was the instant reply, (snowing that 
the impression produced by the long preceding course of 
authorized persecution was, that Christians were outlawed 
by the fact of being readers of the Word of God,) with a 
further threat, that if the doors were not immediately opened 
they would burn the house to the ground ! Another smash 
of windows followed, and one of the mob called out aloud 
' he wilhor a senhora retirar, en vou matalla,' (you had 
better retire, Til kill you.) Miss Rutherfurd sprang back, 
and a huge stone fell upon the spot which she had occu- 
pied but the moment before. The smashing at the door 
was now resumed with fearful violence, and repeated at 
- short intervals. As each blow fell upon the windows and 
door, and resounded through the house, a shudder passed 
over the invalid's weakly frame. And though I am sure 
there was hardly a thought of self within her, yet so deep 
was the sympathy evinced for her suffering sisters in Christ, 
that we expected every moment would have severed the 
spirit from the body, and called it from a stormy world to 
1 where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary 



* The money paid on this occasion was in small sums of 3 
bits (fifteen pence) and upwards. This I have from relatives 
of those who actually received payment. That paid to the ring- 
leaders on the occasion of the outrage on Dr. Kalley's residence 
was in much greater sums — large subscriptions having, I was 
given to understand, been raised among the priests and men of 
property. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 51 

are at rest.' Job, 3 : 17. Each crash seemed like an elec- 
tric shock, pervading every nerve ; so true is it that \ we, 
being many, are one body in Christ, and every one mem- 
bers one of another. 1 Rom. 12 : 5. Thus when 'one mem- 
ber suffers, all the others suffer with it? 1 Cor. 12 : 26. 
Meanwhile Miss Rutherfurd and Clarke, her English maid, 
were exerting themselves to conceal the poor christians 
from the anticipated murderous attack. They consisted 
almost exclusively of women ; of harmless, quiet, inoffen- 
sive females ! But they were protestants — they had not 
been to mass, nor had they lately paid the fees of confes- 
sion.* And so their sex was no protection from the blud- 
geon of the ruffian ! They were marked out by the priest- 
hood for vengeance, and the end was to justify the means. 
For their greater security they were hurried into the kitch- 
en, at the remote end of the house ; that being the apart- 
ment likely to be last reached by the assailants, and from 
which there was a stair-door down to the garden. All but 
a poor blind man were shut in here, and he, perhaps the 
happiest of the party, was put under a bed in a spare room, 
over which some dresses were carelessly thrown to con- 
ceal him from view. He was told that there was no help 
but in his God, and that he must plead with him to put 
out his arm and save him. We also commended the whole 
of our party to the care of our heavenly Father, praying 
that he would be to each of us individually a very present 
help in this our time of trouble ; that he would teach us 
to pray, that he would help our unbelief and confirm our 
faith ; and above all, that he would uphold us, so that not 



* A few weeks before this outrage a poor man attending 
confession, tendered to the priest a bit and a half, (or seven- 
pence halfpenny,) which he had with some difficulty reserved 
from his daily earnings, when the priest turned round with an 
"oath, and "hoped he might turn as black as his hat if he 
would ever confess a man for less than a pistoreen (or ten- 
pence .'") The man returned with the additional half-bit, but 
declared it should be his last attendance at confession. 



52 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

one of our number, for any pains of death, should fall from 
him. The seats were then removed from the room in 
which the meeting had been held. Bibles and bonnets 
were put out of the way, so that no additional cause for 
excitement might inflame the rabble as they entered. Still 
crash succeeded crash, and blow succeeded blow ! what a 
contrast, thought I, between those without and those with- 
in the house ! Here was peace and confidence ; there vio- 
lence and hatred. Here was the voice of Him who is love 
itself, and who had permitted the storm to rise, whispering 
into each one's ear, ' It is I: be not afraid, my grace is suf- 
ficient for thee? there was the voice of Satan urging on his 
slaves to deeds of darkness and of blood. Here, in a 
word, was Christ ; there was Anti-Christ. Here the 
seed of the woman ; there the seed of the serpent. Alas, 
how true ! it was not against their countrymen as men 
that their hatred, their rage, their violence had been raised, 
for many of those had come from the country, and were 
personally unknown. It was not against them, but against 
' Christ in them.' It was Jesus whom they persecuted. 
After a few more crushing blows, the door of the house 
flew open. Still none dared enter. Portuguese coward- 
ice, ready enough to attack the helpless aged female, and 
the blind, shrank from encountering an unknown danger 
in the dark. The ruffians sent for lights, which they 
made 'little boys' carry in their front!! They then 
searched every room in the lower part of the house, but 
in vain. Their victims were not there. 

" Soon after midnight, just as arrangements were com- 
pleted above, lights were distinguished on the staircase, 
and almost immediately they entered the drawing-room. 
Off this room was the invalid's chamber, and thither the 
rioters directed their course. Six or eight of the ruffians, 
preceded by boys carrying lights, flashing in their faces, 
daringly entered the room and demanded the Portuguese ; 
placing, by this act of reckless cruelty, the life of a de- 
fenceless invalid lady, guiltless of crime, in the most im- 
minent danger. They were informed that the Portuguese 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 53 

were not there, and would not be given up ; and desired, 
moreover, not to come farther into the sick lady's room. 
They whispered together for a few minutes, (every mo- 
ment of which must have been an agony to the ladies,) 
and then went grumbling and muttering away. A guard 
being left in the drawing-room they proceeded in search 
">f their victims ; a rather tedious process by the way, in a 
ouse with twenty bedrooms and six sitting rooms, besides 
a chapel and closets of all kinds. At length we heard the 
yell of triumph. The victims had been found. Resistance 
was not thought of, but they were all on their knees in 
prayer to God. One was seized — his head laid open to the 
bone and himself thrown over the bannisters to the ground. 
Here the mob were beating him with clubs and dragging 
him out to be murdered in the garden, * for it is a less 
crime,' said they * to kill him there.' At the very moment 
of opening the door by which to drag out their intended 
victim the police and soldiers entered, thus catching them 
in the very act of outrage, and intended murder in a Bri- 
tish subjects house. The mob were asked by what autho- 
rity they had entered that house, to which they replied 
that ■ they did not care fvr authority or law.'' Two of the 
ruffians were then secured, marched off and lodged in jail. 
The rest fled through the house, making the ladies fancy 
for a moment that either the poor victims were rushing to 
us for shelter, or that the villains were returning to add us 
to the number of their prey. We soon discovered that the 
police were in possession of the kitchen, and taking our 
party under their charge, they conducted them in safety to 
their homes. No sooner had the invalid heard of the safety 
of Christ's little flock, than nature showed herself com- 
pletely exhausted. The spirit indeed was strong, but the 
flesh was weak. She fell into a state of complete insen- 
sibility, from which she had not recovered when I left the 
house in the morning. The noise had, it appeared, been 
heard in the town, but no force was in readiness to quell 
disturbance ; or in ten minutes they might have reached 
the Angustias. The two policemen who heard the noise 

5* 



54 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

were insufficient to face a mob ; they hurried off, there- 
fore, for military aid. Thus, not the foresight of the ma- 
gistrate, nor the vigilance of the government, but the 
length of time spent in searching the house, and the native 
cowardice of the Portuguese, were instrumental in the 
hands of an all-wise and all-merciful Providence, towards 
bringing deliverance to his persecuted, but not forsaken 
ones. 

" In the morning, at the request of Miss Rutherfurd, I 
officially reported the outrage to the consul ' in order that 
he might take such steps as he might be pleased to think 
the case demanded as representative of the British crown.' 
I also begged him to adopt such measures as might be ne- 
cessary to protect British life and property from any repe- 
tition of violence, the door being so smashed in that any 
one could enter the premises at pleasure. This letter I 
delivered in person, but soon found how little we had to 
expect either in sympathy or assistance at the hands of the 
representative of British majesty. The subject was treated 
with the greatest coldness and indifference. More regret 
was expressed at the meeting of a few protestants for 
prayer and praise in the morning than indignation at the 
violation of British rights and honor, and the danger to 
which the lives of British subjects were exposed at the 
hands of a lawless mob at night. Although I looked, and 
still look at the outrage as an affair to be judged of wholly 
irrespective of the meeting or any other circumstance what- 
ever, I ventured to assure the consul that not a word had, 
at that meeting of friends, been uttered against the religion 
of the state, which alone, according to Portuguese inter- 
pretation of the law could make such a meeting illegal. 
Besides, I added, had all the laws of Portugal been broken 
Miss Rutherfurd was amenable to those laws, and to those 
laws only, and till tried and condemned by them, was surely 
entitled to protection from her country. She should not 
be given over to the tender-mercies of a Romish priest and 
his reckless mob. The consul admitted that the outrage 
was unjustifiable; and he ' hoped,' and ' trusted,' and ' felt 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 55 

assured ' that the offenders would be punished. I suggest- 
ed that in my humble opinion the British government, in 
a case of such gross violation of British property, &c. was 
entitled to demand that active measures should be taken 
by the authorities for the arrest of the offenders ; or. at 
least, that due punishment should be ensured to the two 
persons captured on the previous night under circumstan- 
ces that could admit of no kind of doubt as to their guilt. 
So far, however, from this being likely to follow, I told 
him that no authority of any kind had been near the scene 
of outrage ; nor so far as I could see, were any steps what- 
ever being taken for the furtherance of the ends of justice. 
The consul stated, in reply, that it was a case for the 
courts of law, and not for him to interfere in ! I then asked 
the consul as to the protection which the Misses Ruther- 
furd might expect to their lives and property during the- 
night; when (will the reader believe me when I say) the 
representative of Great Britain referred them to the office 
of police ! ' The head of police would, he had no doubt, 
provide them with a sufficient force !' " 

Such outrages were committed on the 2d of Au- 
gust, 1846. Neither the British consul nor the Por- 
tuguese authorities made any efforts to prevent their 
repetition. The leaders of the mob well understood 
the disposition of the authorities, and were encouraged 
in their work. 

" These acts terminated not on the 2d of August, but 
continued from day to day, and from one degree of out- 
rage to another, till two British residents' houses were 
broken open, and one of them plundered ! One British 
family was driven from the island at a moment's notice ! 
Another British subject's house was openly attacked ! The 
British consul was insulted in the public streets, and the 
very consulate invaded by a crowd of ruffians ! Three Bri- 
tish families were obliged to seek personal safety on board 



56 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

a British ship ! and two others in the British consulate ! 
No fewer than eleven British families were threatened by 
the populace ! And yet another British subject (said to 
have been obnoxious on account of emigration transac- 
tions) was soon afterwards obliged to leave the island un- 
der threats of assassination ! One British lady too, having 
sought refuge afloat, died in the bay, hurried through their 
violence to the grave, and others were brought to the very 
verge of dissolution ! While hundreds of Portuguese pro- 
testants were driven from their homes, their houses broken 
into and plundered, and themselves hunted down, each, as 
David of old, like a partridge in the mountains ! One at 
least was barbarously murdered ; while act succeeded act 
of such outrageous cruelty as would make the ears of 
English christians to tingle. Such, I may add, were some 
of the consequences directly arising from the breach of 
the peace by a canon of the cathedral church of Funchal, 
Carlos Telles de Menezes, a Dignitary of the Church 
of Rome ! ! !" 



SECTION IV. 

Lawless state of the Island — Threats against Dr. Kalley 
and others — Dr. Kalley *s letter to the police magistrate — 
To the civil governor — To the British consul — Treache- 
rous guard — Attack on Dr. Kalley 's house — Library burnt 
— Dr. Kalley escapes in the night — Carried in a hammock 
in the dress of a lady to a British vessel — Mrs. Kalley fol- 
lows — Consul and leaders of the mob, tyc. — Protest of 
British Ambassador at Portugal — Commission — Change 
of Government — Mock trial — Results. 

The great object of this persecution was not se- 
cured while Dr. Kalley remained in Madeira. That 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 5*7 

man, who had done more for the Portuguese than 
any other man, who had been the honored agent in 
imparting to them richer consolations than this world 
could give, and for whose efforts many will praise 
God to the end of life, and for ever in heaven, this 
man must be hunted and driven away as unfit to live. 

Large companies of men were marching through 
the city, threatening the destruction of the protes- 
tants, both foreign and native. The cries of " Cat- 
vinista " (i. e. the Calvinists) were loud and ominous. 
Dr. Kalley and others were called by name, and threat- 
ened. Dr. Kalley addressed a letter to the police, 
magistrate, informing him of the facts in the case. 
The servant who was the bearer of the letter was 
seized in the streets by some gentlemen as they were 
called, and was severely beaten, and the letter taken 
from him. Dr. Kalley then appealed to the civil go- 
vernor, and sent him a copy of the letter he had writ- 
ten to the police magistrate. 

At this crisis, when anarchy prevailed, it was per- 
fectly within the power of the governor or the consul 
to restore order, and to protect all whose property 
and lives were threatened. This they were solemnly 
bound to do by their oaths of office. British protes- 
tants could claim protection by treaty. The treaty 
between Great Britain and Portugal, dated July 3d, 
1843, says: "Their (the English) dwelling-houses, 
warehouses, and every thing belonging thereto, shall 
be respected, and shall not be subjected to any arbi- 



58 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

trary visits or search." We have already referred 
to the fact that the treaty secures liberty of worship. 
Such a treaty, with the presence of the consul was 
enough to protect the lives and property of all Bri- 
tish subjects. But the events that follow will show 
how little the treaty was respected. 

The governor, in reply to Dr. Kalley's letter, said 
that the disturbance "was the fruit of the tree he had 
planted in the island, which could produce nothing but 
discord and trouble" On the next morning the head 
of police sent a message to Miss Rutherfurd : — 

" ' That lie (the police-magistrate) would not continue to 
protect Miss Rutherfurd 1 s house so long as Portuguese were 
admitted to hold divine worship, or any that had been 

KNOWN TO ASSEMBLE THEMSELVES TOGETHER Were permit- 
ted to frequent the place? And he further required from her 
a promise in writing i that no meeting should be held in her 
house? To this impudent and daring threat Miss Ruther- 
furd replied by stating to the consul her thorough convic- 
tion that no Portuguese law prohibited such meetings, in 
which nothing was said against the religion of the state. 
At the same time, as protection was otherwise refused to 
the lives and property of herself and family, she requested 
him to give such promise in her name, if he considered 
the giving of such a promise ' extorted by threats] and 
which no law and no treaty gave the magistrate any right 
to prescribe, was compatible with the honor of the British 
nation. If not, she demanded protection from him? 

The magistrate would not give such a promise. 
The threats against Misses Rutherfurd, Dr. Kalley 
and others, were more fierce. Knives were packed 
away in a house near the Angustias. The rioters 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 59 

were watching for Dr. Kalley and some others. The 
servants overheard one of the leaders say " If Dr. 
Kalley escapes this ti?ne, he must be the devil." 

In reply to the insulting letter of the governor, 
Dr. Kalley addressed him a letter. This letter is so 
timely, so excellent, and abounds with so much good 
sense, and at the same time gives us such proof of 
the courage and deliberate judgment of Dr. Kalley in 
such perilous times, that we give the whole of it to 
the reader : — 

" I duly received your excellency's letter of the 4th 
current, and most respectfully thank you for the promp- 
titude with which you sent police to patrol in the neigh- 
borhood of my house on the night between the 3rd and 
4th current. I most earnestly desire that there may never 
be occasion for their services in anything that affects me; 
and as, hitherto, I have always been enabled to act a 
christian and peaceable part, I trust I shall still be enabled 
to do so. 

"My aim has uniformly been to promote the health, 
comfort, and happiness of the Madeirenses, as far as in 
my power ; and I am surprised at the imputation which 
your excellency brings against me and my religious views, 
as the origin of the ' mistrust and disgust which, when 
speaking of the feeling entertained towards British subjects, 
you say have taken the place of ' union and happiness.' 

" I was fully aware that my religious views had been 
most grossly misrepresented ; but till the receipt of your 
excellency's letter, I did not suppose that any gentleman 
of education could imagine that they in any way sanctioned 
disturbance, injustice, cruelty, or crime. 

" I have never taught anything at variance with the 
doctrines, that men have one Father — the living and true 
God, — that we are all brethren, — and that our common 
Father commands all his children to love one another — 



60 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

not in word only, but in deed and in truth ; and that he 
threatens to destroy, with eternal destruction, those of the 
family who will not so love their brethren. I have never 
taught a syllable at variance with the glorious truth, that 
when we had all offended that most gracious Father, and 
deserved the doom he had denounced, a Friend from hea- 
ven — a partner with the Father in his throne — loved us, 
died for us, redeemed us with his blood, and thus laid us 
under still more powerful obligation to love our Lord — to 
love one another — to love all men, even our enemies : and 
such doctrines are diametrically opposed to all disturbance, 
injustice, and crime. 

" I am bold to say, that my conduct, and that of those 
who hold similar religious sentiments, has never been such 
as to give any reason to suppose that, in my creed, I ap- 
proved of any kind of moral evil. No one has ever dared 
to charge me with teaching any man to defraud or injure 
his fellow-man. Amid all the disturbances that ever oc- 
curred at Madeira, there never was an instance in which 
those who agree with me in my religious views, were the 
aggressors ; and among innumerable cases of unprovoked, 
atrocious cruelty practised against them, they have never, 
with one exception, been charged with striking a blow, 
even in self-defence ; for they have learned of Him, who 
was meek and lowly of heart — who, when he was reviled, 
reviled not again — when he suffered, he threatened not, 
but committed himself to him who judgeth righteously. 
I feel, therefore, most fully borne out in repudiating the 
charge which your excellency has brought against me, 
as the cause of the disturbances referred to ; and am con- 
vinced that, on an extensive, unprejudiced investigation 
of facts, your excellency will exonerate rne from the 
charge. 

" In illustration of what I believe to be the cause of 
these disturbances, allow me to refer to the events of last 
Sabbath. 

"A Portuguese gentleman having asked an English 
lady, residing in the Quinta das Angustias, for the use of 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 61 

a room in her house, for the purpose of meeting with a 
few of his friends, it was granted to him. They met, sat 
together for an hour or two, talking, reading the Scriptures, 
and hearing a letter from a common friend in another 
land. There was not a syllable uttered against the religion 
of the State, nor an act performed in opposition to any 
law of the country. 

"As they withdrew from the house, Conego Telles 
was at the door, having an image in his hand, which he 
thrust in the face of each, bidding them ' adore their God,' 
and adding most irritating epithets, to which no irritating 
reply was given. With Ins own hand the priest knocked 
oft' the hat of one who was offending no law, and if he 
was, should have been tried by the law, and not by a priest, 
or by a mob. The crowd, excited by the words and actions 
of the canon, had recourse to blows. The majority of 
those who had met together in the house were deterred 
from leaving it, and the lady of the house could not, for 
the sake of common humanity, compel them to go out 
and be beaten by a reckless mob. 

"There is an invalid lady in the house, whom I attend 
professionally. She is in a most precarious state of health, 
and on the preceding evening I had received a note, stat- 
ing that she was worse. Not knowing anything of what 
had taken place, till within a short distance of the Quinta, 
I went to see her, as her physician. The crowd around 
the house used the most insulting language to me as I 
went in, and when I came out it was repeated, along with 
threatening actions ; and although the mob had been there 
two or three hours, and the canon had been exciting dis- 
turbances, as already stated, there were no police-officers 
on the spot ; or if there were, they did not attempt to re- 
strain violence. I rode quietly through the midst of the 
people, but my servant was laid hold of, beaten, and threat- 
ened with death if he dared to follow T me. About 11 
o'clock at night, men armed with bludgeons made their 
way over the wall, into the grounds in which the Quinta 
das Angustias stands, and daringly demanded tiiat the 



62 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

house-door should be opened to them. This was, of 
course, refused. They were reminded of the lawlessness 
of their proceedings, and warned that their conduct would 
be complained of to the Representative of the British 
Government. A whistle being given, more men appeared, 
to the number of fifty or sixty. They then repeated their 
demands, saying that they wanted the Portuguese citizens 
that were therein. They were told that they might sur- 
round the house till the morning, or send for the police, 
and act in a legal manner, but warned to desist from illegal 
violence. The answer was, that if the inmates would not 
open the door it would be forced open, and in that case 
every one found within should be put to death. The lady 
of the house remonstrated with them from one of the 
windows ; the reply was with threats to burn the house, 
and a large stone flung at her head, from which she nar- 
rowly escaped. 

" The house door was then broken in pieces, the ruffians 
sent for lights, boldly entered the house, searched every 
room, entered with their bludgeons, even into that of the 
invalid lady, uttering most fearful vociferations and threats, 
by all which the life of the invalid was endangered, and she 
lay for hours in a state of insensibility. 

" The ruffians having at last found some Portuguese 
citizens in the kitchen, laid one man's head open to the 
bone, cast him over the bannisters down the staircase, and 
were in the act of beating him with their sticks, when the 
police and soldiers arrived. 

"Your excellency cannot but see that it would be 
madness for defenceless ladies to expose themselves to 
greater danger, by exasperating such a band of desperate 
ruffians, by raising a process against them at a moment 
when the fact of the prisoners being liberated by the 
authorities appears to sanction the outrage, and must of 
course embolden them to repeat the offence. 

" In such circumstances, it cannot be expected that any 
private individual should expose himself to their rage by 
raising an action against them. The authorities are not 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 63 

ignorant of the facts. They are notorious to your excel- 
lency, to the public prosecutor, to the British consul, and 
to the whole population of Funchal. The actual state ot 
the house speaks volumes, but not one of the authorities, 
either British or Portuguese, has yet looked near it. The 
criminals are not unknown — two of them were in the 
power of the authorities — actually in prison — and were 
set at liberty ! Why does the public prosecutor not raise 
an action against those guilty of so public an outrage, 
unless it be true that the authorities do not choose to re- 
press the disturbances by the punishment of the offenders'? 

" Houses have been broken into, and the inmates beat- 
en nearly to death. Other houses have been set on fire 
at midnight, and burnt to the ground, and the authorities 
have not given any public demonstration of disapproval. 
Not one of the criminals has been punished ; and when 
ruffians are arrested by the police 'in flagrante,' in a 
British subject's house, they are forthwith set at liberty. 
The assailants are released — the assailed are imprisoned 
and condemned in virtue of laws, respecting which the 
judge, in the very sentence, declared that they are abolished. 

" Further, the master of police dares to refuse pro- 
tection to British life, and British property, except on con- 
dition of British subjects making promises which no law 
and no Treaty ever conveyed to him any right to exact ; 
and for the want of energetic interference, the residence 
of British citizens is actually placed in a state of siege. 

"If the authorities choose to proceed in such a way, 
the verdict of the world as to the cause of the disturbances 
cannot be doubtful. The attempt of the authorities to throw 
the blame upon others, will only serve to remind the world 
of Nero, blaming the christians for the burning of Rome. 

"A large loose rock, on the steep side of a hill, may 
be easily kept in its place as long as it is at rest ; but once 
in motion, how terrific its course, as it sweeps and bounds 
impetuously down the mountain side, bearing destruction 
along with it. Who can arrest it 1 So it is with the pow- 
er of a lawless mob. 



64 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

" If the government will but act firmly and justly, 
applying the law without prejudice or bias, arresting and 
punishing rioters and criminals of every kind, without 
allowing the religion of the individual to serve as a shield 
for guilt, or a reason for undue punishment, your excel- 
lency will find no difficulty in putting an end to all dis- 
turbances. 

" But if violence be allowed a little longer to take the 
place of law ; if a government permit a lawless mob to 
act the part of judge and executioner on Kallistas, it will 
not be long in the power of the government to restrain 
it; for private malice and revenge will soon apply the 
name to persons who adhere to the religion of the state, 
and are obnoxious only for their wealth or their virtue, 
and the results will then be most deplorable ; but all the 
responsibility must ever rest on those who refuse to apply 
the restraints of justice for the prevention of crime." 

This manly, dignified, and christian letter, com- 
mends itself to the judgment of all intelligent, law- 
abiding men ; and ought to have been a tower of de- 
fence for Dr. Kalley. But it had little influence on 
the mind of the governor. It was addressed to him 
on the 6th of August. The disgraceful scenes that 
transpired two days after are an awful comment on 
the determination of the governor. Instead of making 
any efforts to restore order, the governor recommend- 
ed the immediate removal of the Misses Rutherfurd 
from their present residence. Miss Rutherfurd, on 
hearing of this, wrote to the consul, begging for pro- 
tection ; and the more earnestly, because it was the 
opinion of her physician that the removal of her sick 
sister would be perilous to her life. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 65 

Dr. Kalley having appealed to the police magis- 
trate and the governor in vain, now addressed a let- 
ter to the consul, requesting his prompt action to 
preserve the property and lives of British residents. 
This letter will give the reader a full view of the 
state of things at this crisis. 

" I enclose for your information copies of a corres- 
pondence which I have had with his excellency the civil 
governor. 

" I beg to call your attention to the strong expres- 
sions, ' mistrust and disgust,' which his excellency employs 
in describing the feelings entertained towards British sub- 
jects in Madeira. 

" The most degraded of the people exhibit these feel- 
ings in the public streets by the most hideous vocifera- 
tions, fearful yells and threats, and not one of the servants 
of the local government has ever appeared to make the 
slightest attempt to suppress them. 

" The working of the same feelings, along with con- 
tempt for your interference, with which the rioters were 
threatened, was exhibited in the proceedings which took 
place in the Quinta das Angustias on the night of the 
2nd instant, as is related in my letter to his excellency, 
dated the 6th instant. 

" I must further beg you to combine these expressions 
and tacts with the circumstances, that not only has none 
of the authorities, either British or Portuguese, taken any 
apparent step towards the recognition of the crime, or 
punishment of the offenders : but those actually arrested 
' in flagrante delicto,' by the police, were in the course of 
the same day set at liberty. 

" At the present moment the arrest and exemplary 
punishment of a few of the ring-leaders, coupled with a 
decided declaration from the government, of its determi- 
nation to put an end to such proceedings, would surliee to 
prevent all disturbance. But if energetic measures be 

6* 



66 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

not adopted, no one acquainted with the history of mobs, 
set free from the restraints of law and justice, can doubt 
that those who committed such an outrage as that of the 
2nd current, will soon,,if allowed to taste blood and plun- 
der, acquire such strength that it will not be in the power 
of this feeble government to restrain them. 

" The rioters must feel that the conduct of all the 
authorities implies an approbation of their proceedings, 
inferior only to the issuing of an edict, or the offering of 
a reward for their perpetration; and they are accordingly 
becoming daily bolder, so that on the night of the 5th 
instant, and last night, their threats were such that from 
sixty to eighty individuals felt themselves obliged to flee 
from their houses for their lives, and spend the night in 
the mountains. 

" I have received warning from various Portuguese gen- 
tlemen, that the rioters threaten to attack my house, and 
two or more other British houses within the next eight days; 
and as your inattention with respect to Miss Rutherfurd's 
case has favored the presumption that our government 
will not interfere, whatever atrocities be committed upon 
us, it seems highly probable that an attack will be made. 

" From the conduct displayed towards the Misses 
Rutherfurd, (who had broken no laws, and, if they had, 
should have been tried by the law, and not left to the 
mercy of an infuriated mob,) and towards the rioters ; it is 
impossible to regard the authorities otherwise than as, at 
the very least, conniving at the outrage, and therefore 
responsible for all the results. 

" If you, in your official capacity, do not demand the 
adoption of such measures as shall effectually secure 
British subjects against the repetition of such atrocities, 
I aui convinced that my life and property will be in dan- 
ger; and if, from your non-interference, similar atrocities 
be again perpetrated, our country will justly look to you 
as responsible for them all. 

" I believe it is intended that an attack shall be made 
on other places, at the same time as upon my house, so 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 67 

as to afford a pretence for not sending aid, under the plea 
that the police were occupied elsewhere. 

" You are well aware of the position in which my 
business with the Portuguese government was left by 
her majesty's minister for foreign affairs, in consequence 
of my letter to Lord Howard de Walden, dated 11th of 
February, 1845; and as representative of her majesty's 
government here, you have doubtless made inquiries as 
to my procedure since, and are competent to testify that I 
have not given any just cause of offence to the Portuguese 
authorities. But if I had broken all the laws of Portugal, I 
should still be entitled to protection from our own govern- 
ment, till tried by the law ; and if a foreign government, un- 
der any circumstances whatever, connive at a lawless mob 
committing outrages on British persons or property, oar 
government will, I have no doubt, for its own honor, de-- 
mand ample redress. It is, however, much easier to pre- 
vent than repair injuries, and therefore I lay these matters 
before you, in expectation of efficient protection, and beg 
to know if I may confidently rely upon its being given. 

" P. S. 8th of August.-— For several days the vocife- 
rations, threats and abuse uttered by the lower orders, 
when passing my house, have been incessant ; and of such 
a nature as to be disgraceful to a country professing to 
be civilized. They are never interfered with. Every one 
who goes out, or in my house, is assailed with a volley of 
abuse, whatever be their religious opinions ; and during 
the last night my family was repeatedly alarmed by par- 
ties battering on my door with sticks. 

" 2nd P. S. — Noon. I enclose an anonymous letter just 
put into my hands, which I beg you will return to me * 
I must repeat that I am fully convinced that this comes of 
liberating the prisoners, and other conduct of the autho- 
rities; and if energetic measures be not instantly adopted, 

* " The anonymous letter, which was enclosed, contained 
correct programme of the following day's atrocities, of all 
which the consul was thus fully forewarned. 



68 PERSECUTIONS OP THE 

I shall feel myself obliged to deliver up the key of my 
property to you for protection, as I cannot, with a couple 
of servants, defend it against a mob." 

Besides these letters written by Dr. Kalley, Capt. 
Tate and Dr. Miller, who resided at Madeira, called 
*upon the governor and reminded him of the necessity 
of vigorous measures for the protection of Misses 
Rutherfurd and Dr. Kalley. They assured him "that 
all British subjects were anxious to obey the laws of 
Portugal and if any broke them, they were ready to 
answer for the breach. " To this his excellency replied 
(and mark it reader, for it is an important admission) 
that " he knew this perfectly well" 

The governer and the consul had been notified 
that an attack would be made on Dr. Kalley 's house 
on Sabbath the 9th of August. Let us now look at 
the results. 

" About six o'clock on Saturday evening ten or twelve 
soldiers marched up as a guard to Dr. Kalley's house, and 
were posted in a cottage at the entrance of the grounds. 
For several hours previously two ruffians, dressed as towns- 
men, had been stationed at the door, watching all that 
passed. On the soldiers' arrival, Dr. Kalley asked the 
guard if they knew the cause of all these threats against 
him, and was told that ' they fancied it was because he 
was opposed to the saints !' This, the doctor said was 
quite a mistake, for instead of being opposed to the saints, 
it was his greatest aim and wish to be one of the happy 
-number. The person in charge of the guard then added, 
Well, I don't know, but the authorities think that these 
things have lasted long enough, and they are determined to 
put an end to them ! /' From these ominous words, and 
from preceding events, the doctor felt assured that the 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 69 

authorities would be in no hurry to come to his protection, 
and, therefore, returned to finish the barricading of the 
house by every additional means that he could contrive. 
In the mean time five or six of the soldiers kept watch at 
the gates, whilst their comrades remained in the cottage. 
At ten o'clock, a friend of Dr. Kalley's accidentally met a 
boy returning from Santa Luzia, with a load of iron bolts, 
which he knew had been ordered for the barricading of his 
house. He accordingly stopped the lad, and on inquiring 
the reason of his not delivering them at the Doctor's 
house, was told, ' that he could not gain admittance, and 
that the soldiers had said they were not required /' The 
doctor's friend then accompanied the boy back to the house, 
and assisted the doctor in completing his work. 

"About two in the morning, all had been done that 
seemed possible in the way of defence, and as Dr. Kalley's . 
friend was leaving, the doctor accompanied him to the 
outer gate. Providentially, on reaching it. they overheard 
the guard in a familiar conversation with men, either masked, 
or with their faces blackened; one of whom was sharpening 
a large knife on the door lintel, preparatory, as he said in 
Portuguese, to the ; killing on the morrow /' When several 
had gathered together, they further heard them consulting 
as to whether they should go in then — the soldiers being 
still in their company. One said, ' No, there will be plenty 
of time for all to-morrow.'' Another, ' Nay, but let us go in 
now ;' and the gate moved a little on its hinges. Now this 
had been left shut, so that it could not have been opened 
but from within ; and when found open, it was evident that 
the soldiers were traitors* and had come from the cottage 



" * The soldiers were well aware that what was about to hap- 
pen was both agreeable to the government, and encouraged by 
the priests ; and, therefore their present conduct and bearing 
to the leaders of the mob. Had they been called upon to act 
on the morrow by their officers — or that night instructed by their 
superiors to do their duty, I cannot doubt that, as soldiers, they 
would unhesitatingly have done so. 



70 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

and opened it. A female servant was near, and when she 
saw it move, she instantly shut it with all her force ; and 
having the key with him, the doctor locked it. Convinced 
of the treachery of his guard, and that he had now no 
longer any security to his life, he returned with his friend 
into the house, to consult as to what should be done. 
After committing themselves to God in prayer, and casting 
all their care upon Him, who ' careth' for his people, they 
felt satisfied that the most prudent course was to withdraw 
from the house. Dr. Kalley therefore disguised himself, 
as hurriedly as possible, in the country dress of a peasant, 
and stealthily and silently withdrew. 

" It was a glorious moonlight night, — too clear to be 
favorable for his escape, but there was no time for delay. 
He passed through his own grounds as cautiously as if he 
had been a thief, and fearing as much to meet a ruffian there, 
as, in other circumstances, a ruffian would have been to 
to meet the rightful owner ! Having reached the boundary, 
he looked carefully round; but seeing no watch on this 
side of his property, he descended the wall, to creep along 
the vineyards in his front. What a spectacle was here 
presented ! The best and kindest friend that had ever 
visited Maderia — he that had spent eight long years in 
active exertions to benefit her people — who had been by 
night and by day ministering to their wants, at the bedside 
of their sick and their dying, and had been the means, 
under Providence, of restoring thousands of them to health 
and strength; — he was now leaving his home, at dead of 
night, unattended and alone : — He was fleeing for his life ! 
The stars were shining in beauty above — the mountains 
rising in noble grandeur on his right ; — rich vineyards lay 
before him, and on his left appeared, over the city, the 
calm, placid, silvery ocean. All was still. The winds were 
hushed. It was the Lord's day morning. No sound broke 
the sacred stillness of that hour. All contrasted fearfully 
with the tempest which the demons of superstition and 
persecution had raised in the hearts of some of that delud- 
ed people ! Having descended a little way, the sound of 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 71 

voices broke upon his ear, and fearing it might be a watch 
of enemies, he turned aside. But after a few more alarms, 
especially from meeting people in the way, and from the 
watch-dogs of the peasants, he reached the Pinheiros in 
safety, the Quinta in which I was residing with my invalid 
sister, and mother. This was a little after three o'clock. 
He leapt the wall, gently tapped, and was received by those 
within with fervent gratitude for his escape from the assas- 
sins who sought his life. With deep anxiety had the at- 
tention of all in the Pinheiros been directed, for nights 
past, to the residence which he had now been compelled 
to desert; and our eyes had been intently fixed on the 
spot, almost to the moment when Dr. Kalley made his 
appearance in person.* 

"In the home which he had left there were hearts 
beating anxiously for him ; and we lost not a moment in 
exhibiting the appointed signal of his safe arrival. This 
being seen, the rest of the inmates of the house consulted 
for their personal safety. An old and faithful servant bu- 
ried the silver plate — a few important documents were 
secured, and they left the dwelling, where the ignorant had 
been instructed, the mourner comforted, the sick attended, 
and anxious trembling sinners directed to the blood that 
* cleanseth from all sin,' but against which the leaders of 
the misguided people had now threatened to direct their 
rage. While the family escaped by the back way, through 
vineyards and fields, as the doctor had done before, the 
friend who had been with them during the night returned 
through the front door, leaving, as it would seem to the 
treacherous guard, the whole party quietly within. It was 
now near the break of day, and crowds were pouring up 
the mount road to the Festa, which had just begun. Soon 

if * Our cook had visited Santa Luzia early in the evening, and 
ne had reported the very suspicious appearance of a number of 
" bad men " in the neighborhood of the doctor's house. The 
threats, too, were so open, that we were continually dreading an 
attack. 



72 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

after daylight I was up, and not a little startled at the sight 
of the doctor's groom, who, remembering probably the 
military outrage at the Serra, had fled from his master's 
house as soon as the guard appeared, and taken refuge in 
our stable. Fearing that his being seen would serve to 
throw suspicion on his master's retreat, I asked him a few 
questions as to the time and circumstances of his leaving 
on the previous evening. And having thus lulled the sus- 
picions of our own servants, if any existed, I recommend- 
ed him quickly to seek a place of safety, which he at once 
consented to do.* Thus was Dr. Kalley in a place of 
shelter, unknown to a single native in the island. 

" It was now high time for Dr. Miller (Dr. Kalley's 
brother-in-law) and myself to be acting. We felt assured 
tRat the threatened attack would take place at the appoint- 
ed hour ; but were thankful that we had a British consul 
and a British flag that must be degraded and trampled 
upon, ere a British subject's residence, rendered sacred by 
treaty, could be openly outraged under the Sabbath's 
noon-day sun. We hastened, therefore, to the consulate 
for the purpose of reporting the events of the night, and 
requesting the consul to hoist the union of England over 
the property of Dr. Kalley. The reader may imagine our 
utter amazement when we found that in spite of all the 
warnings he had received, all the details of the plot with 
which he had been furnished, the very hour of the attack 
being known to him, the British consul had actually gone 
away to his country-seat, without any probability of his 
return to Funchal ! !" 

" The Quinta dos Pinheiros, to which the doctor fled, 
commands an excellent view of Santa Luzia, his residence. 
Dr. Kalley had, therefore, an opportunity of watching from 
the windows the motions of the people below ; and who 
can tell with what thrilling anxiety he must have gazed 

* He returned, however, as I afterwards discovered, to the 
stable, and I subsequently took him off in a hammock to the 
" William," of Glasgow, disguised as a woman. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 73 

in the direction of his now deserted residence ? Ten o'clock 
came, and all was quiet : the soldiers kept watch, and the 
intending assailants, who had their spies in all quarters of 
the town, thought that their victims were safe within. 
Half-past ten struck ; still no unhallowed sound was heard 
reverberating there. It was a glorious Sabbath morning. 
The sun had risen, and was shining in a blaze of golden 
light; the sky was cloudless — the earth lovely, every 
vineyard around us being clustered with grapes, scattered 
by a heavenly Friend. But though the wild roar of furious 
men was not yet heard, they were gathering from among 
these vineyards to perpetrate, in the name of that God, a 
God of love, justice, and truth, outrage, cruelty, and it 
might be murder ! The only subject of conversation in the 
streets seemed to be the intended proceedings of the day ; 
and Mrs. Kalley, when escaping in disguise, overheard 
persons say — ; Those icho are in tliat house, would need, to- 
day, to be sure of salvation? 

" Eleven o'clock struck, and still there w y as a pause. 
Then was heard a rocket hissing through the air. A little 
pause, and a second followed ; and there began a hum of 
human voices, which soon rose into wild bursts, like ocean's 
billows in their angriest mood. It sounded nearer and 
nearer ; still the Quinta and grounds were quiet. Another 
moment and a dense mass of human beings emerged from 
among the trees, and were seen surrounding the house. 
There was one wild roar and then a silence. They retreat- 
ed, and a faint hope arose that the soldiers would do their 
duty. But no : the silence was again broken ; the people 
were not mistaken, the approval of the authorities was in- 
deed real, and the work of the instigator of the riots, who 
had, I understand, himself enjoyed the charitable advice and 
medicines of Dr. Kalley, was commenced in earnest. 

" Sledge-hammers and clubs were soon in requisition. 
The ruffians worked hard, and the door was forced. A 
tremendous yell arose, then disappointment and confusion. 
They had expected that the doctor would be dragged out 
to satiate their infuriated passions. But no ; he was not 

1 



74 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

found ! During all this time the governor and the police- 
magistrate were present, with a guard of soldiers ; and 
there they remained while the house was being attacked, 
broken into, and ransacked ; seemingly, as was remarked 
by a gentleman who passed at the time, more as a guard 
to see the work of devastation well done than for anything 
else. The consul arrived in the midst of the work of de- 
struction, and seeing that nothing but force could restrain 
the mob, pressed the governor to ' fire, as it was a case 
where it was necessary to sacrifice life.' But this the go- 
vernor refused to do. Guns were, indeed, heard in the dis- 
tance ; but it was at the festival of ' Our Lady.' The corps 
of country-police, which had, on former occasions, been 
called oat to prevent people from going to the doctor's house 
to listen to the sacred Scriptures, were not now called out 
to save his life. The militia, though called to attend, and 
fire in honor of the Festa of ' Our Lady of the Mount ' 
were not in requisition when the lives and property of 
British subjects were in danger. Nothing effectual was at- 
tempted by the governor, who had at his command all the 
force of the island. Who, then, can fail to see that the 
presence of that functionary and the military, at Dr. Kal- 
ley's house, was a most pitiful farce ? Nay, it was more 
than a farce — it was an insult to the British nation. 

" Disappointed of human sacrifices, the ruffians seized 
upon the doctor's valuable library, manuscripts, and other 
papers ; and those which were not reserved for their priestly 
employers, were, amidst fiendish yells of delight, cast into 
the road in front of the house, thrashed with clubs, and 
afterwards burnt. The sacred Scriptures were the objects 
of especial hatred, and were all consigned, without reserve, 
to the clubs and to the flames." 

As there was now no security either for property 
or life, Dr. Kalley's friends resolved to convey him 
secretly and in disguise to a British vessel. For this 
purpose, a hammock was obtained, but they had much 
difficulty in securing bearers. Finally they succeeded. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. *?5 

" Dr. Kalley was quickly disguised in female attire, put 
into the hammock, and covered over (as invalid ladies are 
when being carried in Madeira) with a linen sheet. Soon 
we had fairly started on our perilous journey, not waver- 
ing in doubt, but strong in faith and prayer ; knowing that 
He that was for us was greater than any host that might 
be arrayed against us. At first one of the bearers refused 
to carry any one whose face he did not previously see ; 
but his objections was fortunately overruled by the ser-# 
vant of the consul. About a hundred yards from the en- 
trance of the Pinheiros two men were on the watch at that 
point of the road which is crossed by the Levado, and from 
which our course diverged to the left. 'This was the first 
danger we encountered ; but, putting on a bold face, we 
advanced towards the spies. A suspicious glance was di- 
rected at myseif, the bearers, and the hammock; but as we 
appeared to be going away from those parts that would 
have led them to suspect the hammock's contents, we were 
allowed to pass on without molestation. 

" Before we had gone far the end of the sheet was 
lifted by one of the bearers and an inquisitive look direct- 
ed within. I then handed into the hammock a bottle ot 
eau-de-cologne, which I carried in my hand to dispel sus- 
picion. In a little time expressions were heard indicative 
that ' it was no lady they were carrying? Still we proceed- 
ed on our long, circuitous journey, passing, ever and anon, 
little groups of curious people, talking over the affairs of 
the day and gazing on the dense column of smoke rising 
from . Dr. Kalley's burning library, &c. the papers from 
which were falling around us. By and by we descended 
towards the town, and the bearer who had lifted the sheet 
exclaimed (1/ was hell for him) * 1 cannot go any farther ; y 
and he stopped and laid down the hammock. The momerl 
was a critical one ; but as the weather was truly oppres- 
' eive (for w 7 e had come under a burning sun) even to one 
unencumbered with the weight of a hammock, I did not 
oppose their resting awhile. I then gently pressed them 
to proceed, and in a few minutes we were passing the 



*76 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

deanery. Three several times did they thus lay down, and 
as often were they induced to resume their burden, each 
time pressing earnestly to know whither they were going. 
This was a question that could be answered only at the 
risk of our lives. I mentioned, therefore, the name of a 
street close to the pier from which we were to embark, 
and by which it was necessary to pass. We were now 
fairly in the heart of the town, and expressions were more 
than once heard ' It is he' We passed the convent of 
Santa Clara, and the consul's servant declared he could 
not go a step further and would not It was a trying posi- 
tion, and things were becoming imminent, for the mob, 
having failed in obtaining possession of Dr. Kalley's per- 
son at Santa Luzia, had assembled in front of the consu- 
late, where as I have already said his wife and brother-in- 
law's family had previously taken refuge. Here they in- 
sisted that Dr. Kalley was secreted, and loudly demanded 
his person. While thus engaged in insulting the British 
flag, and on the very point of breaking into the official re- 
sidence of our consul, a party of soldiers sent by Colonel 
Teixeira was drawn up in front of the consulate. 

" From the steps of St. Peter's another bearer was 
procured, but the cry had just been raised ' There's the 
consuls servant ; that must be Dr. Kalley.' We hurried 
past the franciscan convent and the castle onwards to the 
beach, while the cry of ' Kalley!' ' Kalley!' was being car- 
ried from street to street till it reached the British consu- 
late. Three loud fiendish cheers, and the living mass swept 
impetuously towards the pier, diverted from the siege of the 
consulate to the far more exciting search for the doctor's 
person. At length we reached the pier, the boat was in 
readiness, the hammock put on board and we were launch- 
ed upon the ocean. I turned round and the whole beach 
teemed with living beings. What a change had a moment 
produced ! In our condition and in theirs ! But a moment 
earlier and we had surely been sacrificed to the fury of the 
mob. We were now out of danger— we were beyond the 
murderer's grasp ! 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 77 

" Once afloat we rapidly neared the steamer. From 
other boats inquiries were heard in angry tones as to who 
was in the hammock, but the boatman replied (ignorantly 
or wilfully, I know not which) that ' it was a sick lady 
who was going to the West Indies by the steamer.' Ar- 
rived alongside I mounted the side of the Forth. The 
hammock was reported and Captain Chapman made his 
appearance. At first visions of quarantine passed before 
his eyes — then followed sundry misgivings, and he hesi- 
tated for a moment before a stranger's mysterious story. 
It was, however, but for a moment. A little explanation 
drew forth the hearty welcome, true generosity, and ge- 
nuine hospitality of the English character." 

Soon after this Mrs. Kalley, with a native female 
servant was carried on board the vessel. Immediately 
the consul, who had returned from his country-seat, 
came down to the shore with some of the leaders of 
the mob. The consul requested Dr. Kalley to show 
himself on the deck in order to appease the fury of 
the mob. Dr. Kalley regarded this as a humiliating 
position for him, but as it might save the lives of some 
who were dear to him, he presented himself on deck. 

Thus unprotected by any human government, 
and in peril of his life, was driven from Madeira the 
best friend of the people that ever landed on her 
shores, the man who had consecrated time, talent, 
property and life itself to promote their best tempo- 
ral and spiritual welfare. Not only he and his family 
were obliged to flee, but his library, valued at 810,000, 
was reduced to ashes. 

On the next day, Monday the 10th, Capt. Tate, 
Dr. Miller, the Misses Rutherfurd, in all three men 
7* 



78 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

and ten females were obliged to fly and seek shelter 
on board a vessel. An English lady died in the flight. 

There was no protection for protestants on shore. 
A placard was put on the governor's palace demand- 
ing that protestants should leave the island on that 
week, and stating that four thousand men would come 
for the answer of the government on next Sabbath. 

Such was the state of things when Dr. Kalley 

left Madeira : — 

" The civil governor and police magistrate were present 
at the work of destruction ! The officer of the guard fre- 
quently asked permission of the head of police to disperse 
the mob, but was told on no account to do so ! Colonel 
Teixeira, the military commandant, knowing what was go- 
ing on at Dr. Kalley's house, and having received no requi- 
sition for more troops than a small guard, proceeded in 
person to the scene of plunder, told the civil authorities 
that he had field pieces and plenty of troops ready for ac- 
tion, and asked permission to bring them up. He was in- 
formed there was no need whatever for them /" 

How clear is the evidence in view of the above 
facts, that the government were in collusion with the 
mob, and that the laAvless rioters believed their 
course would be approved by the public authorities. 
The priests, who were violently opposed to the circu- 
lation and reading of the Bible, excited the govern- 
ment to commence this persecution against the best 
inhabitants of Madeira, and the government, in order 
to evade the responsibility of open and authorised 
violence, secretly employed or countenanced the mob 
in the destruction of property and of life. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 79 

The most marvellous thing in all these move- 
ments is, that the British consul seemed to be per- 
fectly indifferent, and entered no protest against the 
inexcusable and treasonable conduct of the govern- 
ment at Madeira. He saw that this was a flagrant 
and unprovoked persecution against the Bible-read- 
ers, and he knew it was an open violation of the 
treaty between England and Portugal so far as Bri- 
tish residents were concerned ; and yet, with all this 
knowledge of the facts, he made no efforts in his offi- 
cial character to arrest it. The severity of the British 
press, especially the North British Review, when 
speaking of the conduct of the consul, is justly me- 
rited. 

" The conduct of the British consul, a Mr. Stoddart, 
was the most extraordinary of all. He was appealed to 
again and again for protection by British subjects, but in 
vain. Miss Rutherfurd, Dr. Kalley, Mr. Tate pointed out 
to him their danger ; showed him how a word from him, 
the least show of firmness and decision would have pre- 
vented all the outrages. But their remonstrances might 
as well have been addressed to the waves. He ' hoped,' 
and 'trusted,' and c felt assured ' that the authorities would 
do their duty; and when the outrages had been committed, 
when British property was consumed in the flames, British 
residences entered and plundered in violation of treaty, 
and British subjects were obliged to fly to the sea for their 
lives, still the British consul, their appointed protector, 
4 hoped ' and ' trusted ' and ' felt assured ' that the authori- 
ties would punish the offenders. The consul was fore- 
warned of the intended attack on Dr. Kalley's house, and 
immediately on receiving notice of it he set off for his 
country house, that he mighl be away from the scene oi 
outrage ! His pusillanimity encouraged the mob to be- 



80 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

siege the consulate, threatening to burn it to the ground. 
They were prevented by Captain Chapman, whose pre- 
sence effected what that of any resolute determined man in 
uniform, and this in apparent authority, would have done 
before. 

" The British consul throughout the day appeared in a sai- » 
lor's round jacket ! The consular uniform did not suffer the 
indignities to which the person of the consul was exposed at 
the hands of the people. The flag, too, of England, instead of 
flying triumphant over the heads of the English, lay furled in 
the lockers of the consulate ! While insults were thus accu- 
mulating the consul returned from Santa Luzia, and address- 
ing the people, assured them that Dr. Kalley had embarked in 
the steamer. But this was not believed. Further indignities 
must be borne by the English. The representative of the crown 
of Great Britain must accompany the ringleaders to the ship 
and gratify the rabble by ocular demonstration. And he did 
so. Dr. Kalley, in order to save those dearest to him from being 
burned alive in the consulate, consented to this indignity. The 
doctor showed himself, and the consul returned.' — Tate, p. 56, 

" No wonder our author should indignantly exclaim 
' Englishmen must blush for the honor of their country 
when they see the flag of England lowered in peace which 
was not lowered in war — lowered to the rabble of Portu- 
gal, which was not lowered to the armies of France.' " 

When the tidings of these outrages reached Por- 
tugal the British ambassador there, more faithful to 
his trust than the consul at Madeira, entered his so- 
lemn protest against these reckless and unrighteous 
proceedings. The Queen of Portugal was compelled 
by this act to appoint and send a royal commission 
to investigate the affairs at Madeira, especially with 
reference to the treatment of British subjects. 

This commission came and made their investiga- 
tions. In their view, the conduct of the govern- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 81 

ment at Madeira was so unjustifiable that they re- 
quested the administration to resign. They all re- 
signed except the administrador do concelho. 

His dismission was immediately sent from Portu- 
gal. A new governor was appointed at Madeira, In 
this change there was a show of disapprobation on 
the part of the queen against those w T ho had encou- 
raged and sanctioned this persecution by their silence 
and inaction. Whether this change was made by the 
queen with a conviction of wrong doing on the part 
of the authorities at Madeira, or whether it was ef- 
fected through fear of British cannon, may be a 
question. 

There was also the external form of a trial of some 
of those who had been the most active and the most 
savage in this persecution. The result of this appear- 
ance of justice was the acquittal of all the rioters. 
Even those who were arrested, in the very act of mur- 
dering the Bible-readers, were acquitted. When the 
evidence of their guilt was too obvious to be denied, 
no penalty was inflicted. The leaders of the mob, 
such as Canon Telles, were not subjected even to the 
form of a trial. 

The painful conclusion to which we are driven by 
these facts is, that the civil government and the courts 
of justice connived at these enormous crimes, and 
that the whole form of trial was a solemn mockery or 
a farce. The result of such proceedings (to say noth- 
ing of their injustice) must sooner or later be disas- 



82 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

trous on the government, and on the administration 
of justice : and if there is, as we verily believe, a 
retribution for nations and governments in this world, 
then the government of Madeira may yet anticipate 
fearful things in the wondrous developments of God's 
dispensations. 

The immediate results of these unrighteous do- 
ings, as God has overruled them, is the establishment 
of the converts in the truth and the faith of the Gos- 
pel, and the conviction in the minds of many of the 
inhabitants that the converts were right and the go- 
vernment were wrong. 



SECTION V. 



Barbarous treatment of native converts — Bibles burnt and 
hid — Converts flee to the mountains — Houses and furniture 
destroyed — Portuguese flee to foreign vessels — Gratitude — 
Prayer for enemies — Narrow escapes — Boy twelve years 
old knocked down — Aged women beaten and left for dead — 
A man murdered — 1000 converts flee to West India Islands 
— State of those left at Madeira — Petition to the Queen of 
Portugal— The Bishops pastoral. 

If foreign protestants were driven by violence 
from the island, we may readily suppose that the state 
of the Portuguese Bible-readers was perilous and ter- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 83 

rific. They were persecuted on every side. Their 
neighbors, who still adhered to the Roman church, 
the priests and the police were constantly on the alert 
to arrest them. They were forbidden ? to read the 
Scriptures, or to pray together in their own dwellings. 
Every copy of the word of God on which the priests 
could lay their hands was immediately committed 
to the flames. But thanks be to God, the Bibles were 
not all destroyed, some enclosed their Bibles in small 
boxes and buried them in the earth. Others opened 
a place in the stone wall of the house, put in the 
Bible, and then plastered over it.- And others wrap- 
ped them in cloth and hung them in trees of very 
thick foliage. In such ways as ingenuity and piety 
could suggest, we are assured by those who know, that 
at least 50 Bibles and 300 New Testaments were pre- 
served from the destroyer and are now on the island. 
From time to time there has been a resurrection of 
those Bibles that were buried during the violence of 
the persecution. The fruits of " the seed of the king- 
dom " will, we trust, yet be seen in Madeira. 

The most fearful threatenings had been uttered 
against the Portuguese converts. These, as we shall 
see, were not idle words, uttered merely for effect. 
These inoffensive christians, who desired " to lead a 
quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty," 
were made to feel the full import of these terrible 
threatenings. 

" At length a series of attacks was commenced, and 



84 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

carried on without opposition, upon the houses of all the 
Portuguese families who had left the Church of Rome. 
Every night we heard of some new instance of violence 
and cruelty, till at last they felt themselves under the neces- 
sity of seeking safety in flight. On the evening of the 5th 
many houses were plundered by bands of marauding ruf- 
fians, and sixty or eighty of the converts were compelled to 
leave their homes, and pass the night in the mountains. 
Night after night these bands continued to repeat their 
desolating work ; and in greater and greater numbers were 
the believers driven from their houses : — till, on the Sun- 
day, many hundreds of Potuguese subjects, obnoxious to 
the priests, only on account of their adherence to the Gos- 
pel truth, had fled for their lives. The mob had broken 
open their doors, and destroyed their windows, furniture, 
and other property ; trampling under foot the grapes and 
com of those who possessed vineyards and gardens. When 
the work of destruction was done in the town and neigh- 
borhood, the ruthless persecutors followed the scattered 
flock to the mountains, hunting them down like beasts of 
prey. Those that loved Christ were hated by man. For 
them there was no security — no law. They were pilgrims 
in a land that was their own. Heirs of heaven, they were 
strangers in their native Isle. Had they remained quietly 
in their houses, who can tell the scenes of bloodshed and 
murder that would have resulted ? But these they had left, 
and were praising their God in the mountains ? They had 
fled to the dens and caves of the earth, and were they for- 
gotten or deserted there ? Reader, ' can a woman forget 
her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on 
the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not 
forget thee] Isaiah, 49 : 15, saith the Lord. Though they 
had lost their earthly all, Christ was still their own. 
They were sorely tried, and vexed, and troubled, but 
none could rob them of that precious promise, i Lo ! 
I am with you alway, even to the end of the world. 
Matthew, 28 : 20." 

This was truly "persecution for righteousness 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 85 

sake," and hence the sufferers might expect the con- 
solation to be found in these words of the Saviour, 
" Blessed are ye." They trusted in Him who is the 
God of the mountains as well as of the valleys. On 
the mountains they realized that they were under the 
shadow of his wings. There they could say, " God 
is our refuge and strength, a present help in time of 
trouble." They committed themselves into the hands 
of that Saviour who spent the whole night on the 
mountains in importunate prayer to God for his dis- 
ciples. They trusted only in Jesus Christ for deliver- 
ance. 

" By thus confiding in Jesus, they experienced a sense 
of peace and security, and rejoiced in the mountain wilds 
with a joy more real and precious than any that the world 
can know. Nor were they disappointed in their hopes. 
They soon heard that the ship William had received on 
hoard those who sympathized in their cruel sufferings. 
And the very first night after we embarked, several of 
the poor persecuted ones were safely treading the deck 
of the William. It was a truly interesting sight to see 
the boat sweep along side, doubtful at the moment whom 
it might contain ; then to see one after another mounting 
the side of the ship — casting a wistful eye around, lest 
perchance they might have missed the looked-for vessel ; 
to witness the affectionate meeting, as they caught the 
eye, and afterwards the hand, of a well-known sympathiz- 
ing friend. It was most affecting to see the tear of joy, 
the look of gratitude, that beamed in the face of each poor 
sufferer as he first set foot upon an English deck, and 
once more breathed the air of freedom and of liberty. 
It rejoiced the heart to see the tear of gladness — to hear 
the prayer of intercession for their enemies, and the 
hymns of praise and gratitude from night to night, a& 
8 



86 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

their numbers increased, and they now flocked in crowds 
to seek amongst strangers that shelter which their coun- 
trymen refused them. Old and young, strong and infirm 
girls, and women with children at their breasts — all hur- 
ried to the William, knowing that here were hearts beat- 
ing with tender affection for Christ's suffering flock. 

" I wish I could recount the marvellous escapes of some 
through the brushwood of the mountains, while their 
enemies were in full pursuit — the hair-breadth escape of 
others, who left their homes at midnight, and never were 
permitted to enter them again — who left them to the rob- 
ber and the plunderer, and never found shelter more, till 
they found it in the William of Glasgow. I have a letter 
before me from one who, writing from Trinidad, speaks 
thus of her wanderings in the mountains of Madeira; — 
I cannot narrate in writing the afflictions we suffered, 
nor even by word of mouth could I tell them. I can only 
say we fled from our home on Saturday night, and wan- 
dered fugitives for thirteen days. But God in his mercy 
sent us a ship one day after the sad 9th of August, to 
deliver his children from the fangs of their enemies, and 
from the snares of the devil. We cannot give the thanks 
due to God for his mercy towards us. God fulfilled his 
word: — "When thou pas sest through the waters, I will be 
with thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow 
thee ; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be 
burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."*'* Every 
night added to the list of native converts rescued from 
the assassins' grasp. But all did not escape so well. 
On the morning of the 9th, the day of attack of Dr. Kal- 
ley's house, the nephew of a poor woman, who had just 
been obliged to fly from the house, was found at the 
door, as the ruffians came to attack it. He was but 
twelve years old, but his youth was no protection. He 
was knocked down and violently beaten, receiving a 
dreadful blow in the head, which for a considerable time 

* Isaiah, 43: 2. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 87 

confined him to the hospital. On the same day a poor 
old woman was dreadfully beaten, and the mob, supposing 
her dead, dragged the body to the spot where two of the 
converts had "been buried on the public road.* There 
they laid her upon the grave. She remaned in this state 
a considerable time, and was then carried to the hospital ; 
but having refused to attend confession, on which terms 
only she was offered her life, she was cast out to perish. 
She was afterwards taken in again, and notwithstanding 
one arm was broken, and her whole body a mass of bruises, 
recovered, and sailed in the Lord Seaton for Trinidad. 
Poor Mariasinha ! hers was one of the most fiery of all 
the trials of those stormy days. Canon Telles attacked 
her again and again, and the most fearful threatenings 
were employed to force her to confession. She w&sfive 
weeks alone amongst her enemies; — speaking of which 
time subsequently to a christian friend, she shuddered, as 
she thought of the blasphemies she had heard from the 
lips of the other invalids, and from the attendants. May 
her patience, and her strong and simple faith have been 
blessed as a lesson to some one among them! It is inte- 
resting to tell how this poor one of the flock, weak both 
in mind and body, was made strong to witness a good 
profession in the hour of trial. During this conversation, 
which the English lady declared to be a solemn lesson to 



* " As if it was not sufficient for the church of Rome to be 
continually persecuting the converts to Gospel truth, she de- 
nies, in direct violation of the laws of Portugal, their very bo- 
dies sepulture in the only legal cemetery, and decrees that 
they be buried in the public roads. Scarcely twelve months 
since the authorities of Madeira, not content with ordering a 
protestant's body to be thus buried in the public road, insisted 
on its being buried in front of his own door, in order that the 
family might daily step over it. Happily the rock prevented 
the accomplishment of this iniquitous design, and lie now lies 
on one side of the door. Verily ' the righteous perisheth, and 
no man layeth it to heart.' Isaiah, 57: 1." 



88 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

her, sjie said: ' much had been forgiven her, and truly she 
loved much? Another woman was treated in a similar 
way some days later, and shortly after, a man was barba- 
rously murdered in open day by five or six ruffians, who, 
not content with having murdered him, jumped and 
stamped, like fiends, over the mutilated remains. For 
this murder four men were committed to prison, and dur- 
ing the week a jail delivery was everywhere spoken of, 
as the work of the coming Sunday. On the Saturday 
preceding, being the eve of the great Mount Festa, the 
city was filled with strangers. At intervals during the 
day two English ships, lying next to us, -fired their guns, 
to show the people, as the captains remarked, that afloat, 
at least, the English could and would protect themselves. 
This, I believe, gave great offence to the Portuguese 
authorities ; but there is no doubt the effect on the peo- 
ple was good. 

" The military officers, ashamed of the scandalous affair 
of last Sunday, met together in their quarters, and re- 
solved amongst themselves to put down all attempts at 
disturbance, independantly of any requisition from the civil 
authorities ; ' seeing,' as they said, ' that the administrator 
do concelho had lost the public confidence, and had been 

, the promoter (as they were ready to prove, if the inquiry 
were proceeded with) of all the disorders, in concert with 
the Canon Telles and other priests ;' and a message to this 
effect was sent to the governor. Throughout the week 
some very clever and ludicrous squibs were posted in dif- 
ferent parts of the town, and it was the constant work ot 
the police to search them out, and pull them down. Some 
caricatures also appeared, in which certain public charac- 
ters were by no means spared.* On Sunday, the 16th of 
August, a good many boats were pulling and sailing 



* Some wag fixed, among other papers, on the door of 
the British consulate — " To let, with immediate possession" 
u Furniture for sale, the occupier being about to leave the 
Island" $c. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 80 

about our vessel, with insulting parties on board, singing 
songs against the Calvinistas, and in one we recognized 
the boys who held the lights before the ruffians on the 
night of the Angustias outrage, as they entered the inva- 
lid's chamber. Crowds of people were in the town from 
all parts of the Island. Upwards of two hundred assem- 
bled, as on the previous Sunday, in the neighborhood of 
the cathedral, armed with bludgeons; but on hearing of the 
determination of the military, and not meeting with their 
friend the police magistrate, as they had done before, dis- 
persed, or rather went in search of the native converts in 
the country, fearing that an attack of the jail would only 
meet with certain defeat and loss. The two neighbor- 
ing ships continued firing their guns at intervals through- 
out the day, for which, I believe, they incurred the penal- 
ty of a consular reprimand. 

" The William had now received on board all the con- 
verts she could accommodate, and, as it was impossible for 
these poor persecuted ones, either to appear on shore, or 
to satisfy the priests' demands, it was necessary that some- 
thing should be done to remove the difficulties of procuring 
their passports. A deputation accordingly waited on the 
governor, and obtained from him a dispensation as to per- 
sonal application, and also as to the certificates of church 
attendance, which are always insisted on before a passport 
is given. So glad were the authorities at this time to 
sacrifice any consideration to allay the fever which they 
had themselves excited." 

Thus did the great Head of the Church prepare 
the way for the flight of his people from their native 
country ! What a company was this ! What a spec- 
tacle for the 19th century! Parents and children, 
husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, aje sepa- 
rated from each other. Among these tender, natural 
and social relations, some are persecutors on shore, 
and others are fugitives on the vessel. Who can toll 
8* 



90 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

the agony of these persecuted disciples about to 
leave their country and friends for ever? What 
were their feelings, when they thought of the dark- 
ness, delusion and bigotry in which their relatives 
were involved; — when they anticipated that their 
next meeting would be at the judgment-seat of 
Christ, and especially when they thought of the des- 
tiny of those who persecute the children of God? 

The day of their departure arrived. What a day 
for them ! Alas ! What a day for Madeira ! It seems 
as though the Gospel was to be taken away from 
that infatuated people : it looks like the departure 
of the Saviour from their coasts : it reminds us of 
his declaration to the bigoted priests and Pharisees 
who despised and rejected him: " I go my way, and 
ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins ; whither 
I go, ye cannot come." But our prayer is, that 
they may not be abandoned to their delusions. May 
the light of the glorious Gospel % yet shine upon 
them, and may they yet rejoice in that light. 

"On Sunday, the 23rd of August, the William loosed 
her sails, and slowly and beautifully glided out of the Bay 
Funchal. There was something of deep solemnity about 
of every motion — carrying, as she was, two hundred chris- 
tians from the land of their fathers, to seek a refuge in a 
land of strangers. Most of this large party had left their 
homes at night, and could not, without risking their lives, 
return to their ruined cottages to collect any little property 
that might be left. Many of them came on board with 
nothing but the clothes they had on, and these in tatters 
from their wanderings in the Serras. Yet during the days 
we sojourned among them in that ark of refuge, not a word 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 91 

of repining reached our ears, except from one or two un- 
converted members of large families, who had not yet learn- 
ed to love the cause for which the rest rejoiced to suffer. 
The language of all the others was that of joy and thank- 
fulness to Him who had called them ' out of darkness into 
his marvellous light;' Peter, 2:9; and who had now in 
his mercy delivered them from their enemies on every side, 
and gathered them together in one family, and into one 
refuge. The more that was*seen of this persecuted flock, 
in circumstances the most trying, the higher did their 
christian principle rise in the estimation of all. Those 
only who know the general character of the Portuguese 
can form a just estimate of the total change that must 
have passed on these converts. They had become " new 
creatures' indeed. In the distribution of clothes to the 
necessitous, Matthew, 5 : 44, it was most gratifying to 
witness the good feeling shown by all on the occasion — ■ 
to see not merely their willingness to share with one another 
the bounty of their christian friends, but their eagerness 
to tell of the wants of others more destitute than themselves. 
And in no one instance was there an attempt to deceive, by 
any concealment of what they possessed. The mate and 
steward both repeatedly remarked, 'that they had never 
seen folk love one another as these folk did.'' Among the 
two hundred and eleven passengers of the William, there 
was one Romanist family, who had long persecuted the 
converts, and was now seeking a passage to Trinidad as 
emigrants. Their extreme poverty excited the lively com- 
passion of those around them. After the converts had 
each received from the hand of charity their small supply 
of clothing, some of them came aft to their benefactors 
on the poop, and begged to know if they might now con- 
sider it as their own property, and act accordingly. They 
were asked the reason of the question, when they said, it 
was their wish to obey the Lord's command — ' Love your 
enemies, bless them that curse yon, do good to them that hate 
you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and per- 
secute you? They were cheerfully assured that they might, 



92 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

and it was pleasing to see them share their scanty store 
with their former enemies ; thus affording a most beautiful 
specimen of the spirit by which they were animated. 

u Their conduct throughout was such that the Roman- 
ists openly expressed their wonder and astonishment. 
They saw those who had little properties, (and there were 
both land and householders in the William's band of 
christians,) parting with their houses and land, and all they 
possessed, for the smallest trifle, counting 'all things but 
loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus 
our Lord.' Philippians, 3 : 8. One Portuguese gentleman, 
talking on the subject, wound up by saying, that * if he 
were called upon to choose a religion suddenly, and with- 
out further thought, he believed he should fix upon that 
of these people, because he saw them suffer without com- 
plaining,'' 

" As was their conduct under persecution on shore, so 
was their conduct afloat. They had chosen Christ, and the 
only subject of their glorying was the Lord Jesus. They 
looked not back upon the world, with all its pleasures. 
From it, and from self, they had been weaned by the Spi- 
rit of that God, who had been their friend through evil 
report, and through good report; who had been more 
than a brother to them, in sorrow and in joy, by day and 
by night, at all seasons, and in all circumstances. They 
knew that He, who had thus watched over them would 
not desert them in the land to which they were now being 
driven before the persecuting hand of man. Christ, when 
on earth, said to his disciples, ' When they persecute you 
in this city, flee ye into another.'* The christian's kingdom 

* " Matthew, 10 : 23. After reading, in the simplicity of 
their faith, the words ' if they have persecuted me, they will 
also persecute you/ John, 15:20, and 'when they persecute 
you in this city, flee ye into another,' they felt that they must 
suffer persecution, as God had said so. And after talking to- 
gether on the subject, they applied to a Christian friend as to 
what they should do when persecution came, for they could not 
flee to other cities, unless God were to open a way for them 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 93 

is not of this world : his kingdom is a kingdom set up by 
the God of heaven. It is a kingdom which shall, in God's 
own good time, break in pieces and consume 'all other 
kingdoms, but shall itself stand for ever.'' Dan. 2 : 44. 
Rather than sacrifice one's inheritance in that kingdom, 
it were well to flee, during a whole lifetime, from city to 
city, or from one land to another, however severe the 
trials, however great the earthly losses, however cruel 
the personal sufferings. * The disciple is not above his 
master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for 
the disciple to be as his master, and the servant as his lord. 9 
Matt. 10 : 24, 25. ' If we suffer, we shall also reign 
with him.' 2 Tim. 2 : 12. 

"And now why was all this grievous persecution carried 
on against that little flock? Were they traitors to their 
country 1 There were none more loyal. Were they dis- 
turbers of the peace ? None were more peaceful. Never, 
perhaps were the members of any church more ' likemind- 
ed one toward another, according to Christ Jesus,' Rom. 
15: 5, than the little flock at Madeira. Never was there 
simpler faith, simpler hope, simpler love. Shining as lights 
'in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,' they 
held 'forth the word of life;' Phil. 2: 15, 16; con- 
stantly provoking each other to love and good works. 
Their humility, gentleness, guileless simplicity, and burn- 
ing love, were seen and acknowledged by their most 
bitter enemies. Like the meek, who shall inherit the 
earth, they would fain have been suffered quietly to 
delight themselves in the abundance of peace. As fol- 
lowers of the Prince of Peace, they were peaceable and 
peacemakers. They desired peace with God, peace 
with man, peace at home, peace abroad. But peace was 
not to be purchased at the expense of principle. c The 

through the sea. His answer, delivered four years before, they 
now called to mind, * if persecution should come to Madeira, 
God would also send ships (o deliver those- who keep his word, 
as surely as he delivered the Israelites from the power of 
Pharaoh." 



94 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable.' 
James, 3 : 17. To appease the enemies of Jesus, they 
would not cease to read and obey the word of God. And 

THIS WAS THE SUM AND GROUND OF THEIR OFFENCE. They 

loould obey the injunction of their Saviour, to " search the 
Sciptures," John 5 : 39, and learn of Him, Matt. 11 : 29, 
instead of subjecting their minds and will to the gui- 
dance and thraldom of their fellow sinners, who in vain 
were serving God, ' teaching for doctrines the command- 
ments of men.' Mark, 7 : 7." 

In the ship William there were about two hundred 
of these exiles, and soon after this, the Lord Seaton 
took about the same number. Besides these 400 
souls, others fled to the various vessels, and sailed for 
the West India Islands. About one hundred landed 
at Demerara, and about the same number fled to 
St. Vincent, and also to St. Kitts. Between 600 
and 700 went to Trinidad, while others landed at 
other islands. 

We do not know the precise number of those who 
have fled from Madeira. We have recently heard 
of refugees from Madeira, in British Guiana. Others 
are yet to be heard from. But we know of one 
thousand on the islands we have named. These 
have sacrificed their country, property, relatives, 
friends, and all on earth for the sake of their attach- 
ment to the Gospel. 

Some made efforts to sell their property, when 
they were about to leave, that they might have 
some means for their voyage. But no one would buy 
only at an immense sacrifice. One man whose pro- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 95 

perty was worth $1500 sold it for $100, &c. 
Those who had a large and valuable property could 
not sell at all. Those who had small possessions, 
worth $400, or $500, could get nothing for them. 

These converts, flying for their lives, could not 
take their property with them, and an attempt to 
recover it after they left Madeira, was hopeless. 
Hence all they had of this world's goods, was sacri- 
ficed. Some brought only the clothes they wore, 
and some fled in their night dresses. 

The state of those who remained at Madeira is 
very uncomfortable and painful. A brief extract 
from the narrative of Capt. Tate will give the reader 
a sad view of their condition. 

" There are still many protestant prisoners confined in 
the jail of Funchal, some of whose cases are hard and 
distressing In the extreme. The following is the case of 
six now in the jail, and given in the Defensor ', one of the 
public newspapers, dated the 30th May, 1846 — the editor 
of which, it may be here remarked, was threatened with 
murder in August last. \ On the 20th of the current 
month, there was tried in open court a cause of impor- 
tance, because involving one of the most serious constitu- 
tional questions. In November of last year several per- 
sons of the parish of Santo Antonio having met one Lord's 
day evening, in their own house, to listen to the Bible, 
several police officers, and persons whom they called to 
aid them, went thither and summoned those individuals to 
surrender themselves prisoners; and entering into their 
house, against their will, one of the police wounded the 
owner of the house ; they did not, however, succeed in 
arresting him till next day, when soldiers went thither from 



96 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

the city for that end. The public prosecutor accused them 
of the crime of resistance of justice. Dr. Barradas defend- 
ed the accused. The police and their assistants were wit- 
nesses for the prosecution. All of them concealed the fact 
of their having entered the house, but this was proved by 
the declaration of one of themselves at a previous ex- 
amination, and by a witness for the defence. 

" In vain did the advocate show that there was no case 
of disobedience or resistance, for they were not charged 
with any crime, on account of which the police could legally 
have sought to arrest them. They were only charged with re- 
sisting the police; — except in cases of delictum flagrans no 
one can be arrested without the written order of a legal 
authority, and the police had gone without any such order; — 
the house of a citizen is an inviolable asylum, into which 
no one can effect a violent entrance — therefore the police 
and their assistants were guilty of assault; — where law 
ends, tyranny begins, and it is the right and duty of every 
citizen to resist it. In vain, with these and many other 
arguments, whose evidence no sensible and impartial man 
could resist ; did he demonstrate that in the facts imputed 
to the defendants there was no crime, but the legitimate 
exercise of a constitutional right. Notwithstanding all, 
the jury found in these facts the crime of resistance 
proved ; and some jurymen, I am informed, lamented that 
there were not more counts against them, for they would 
have declared them all proved. 

"When the jury, the natural guard of constitutional 
privileges, sanction, by their decisions, arbitrary acts which 
violate their privileges, alas for liberty ! To-morrow they 
may be the victims of the same illegal acts which they 
sanction to-day. Who will then regard their cry ? Ty- 
ranny is like fire ; vires acquirit eundo.' 

" These prisoners were condemned to ten months' im- 
prisonment, counting from the date of their arrest, and 
though these ten months were completed on the 16th of 
September last, they were retained in jail, and were still 
there in the end of December, without any prospect of release, 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 97 

because the public prosecutor had appealed against the 
sentence as not sufficiently severe ! Appeals are sometimes 
unanswered for years ! ! 

" The widowed mother of two of the prisoners had been 
arrested along with them, but was released without trial. 
Her store-house was burnt to the ground, and her dwel- 
ling set on fire by incendiaries, onthe 2nd of January, 1846, 
since which time, having been obliged by the persecution 
to flee to the West Indies, she has fallen a victim to fever. 
Her husband was buried in the public road in 1845 on 
account of his adherence to Gospel truth." 

To show more fully the state of the converts on 
the island, we refer to the action of the public offi- 
cers, priests, &c. A petition was drawn up and sent 
to the Queen of Portugal, begging her to issue a de- 
cree " against foreign missionaries and their agents, 
foreign and native. " One hundred and seventy eight 
persons signed this petition. Among the signers 
were the civil governor, judges, public prosecutor, 
thirty eight priests, and eighty one who were rela- 
tives of the priests. Canon Telles circulated the 
petition and obtained signatures. 

The course pursued by the Roman catholic bish- 
op of Madeira has been very oppressive to the Bible- 
readers, or native protestants. He ordered that all 
young persons should be confirmed according to the 
rites of the Romish church, and all the inhabitants 
should attend confession and mass. Those who dis- 
obeyed this order were to be proceeded against for 
heresy and ajyostaaj. By this the converts who can- 
not consent to be partakers of such idolatry, are 
9 



98 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

constantly subject to arrest and imprisonment. What 
then must be the condition of those friends of the 
Bible at Madeira ! 

This is the revival of the old forms of persecution 
so popular and effective, when the papal inquisitions 
were in the glory of their power, and by which so 
many millions of devoted disciples have suffered, and 
groaned, and died. Surely the inquisitors have suc- 
cessors in the 19th century, whether the apostles 
have, or not. The re-appearance of this form of per- 
secution, enforcing uniformity by authority, presents 
humiliating evidence that the Roman church at Ma- 
deira is not in sympathy with the progress of the 
age. The same means are employed to compel obe- 
idience to her claims, that were used with unrelent- 
ng cruelty in centuries past. 

The bishop who left Madeira for Lisbon in the 
beginning of 1846, saying, that he would not return 
until Dr. Kalley was driven away, returned, and is- 
sued his pastoral on the 30th of October in the 
same year. This is a wonderful document for the 
nineteenth century, and deserves some attention as a 
manifesto of the views of the Romish church, re- 
specting the persecution of heretics in this age. 

The bishop speaks of the " proud and satanic 
philosophy of the inimical man," (i. e. Dr. Kalley,) 
" spreading and burning the fertile and pious field ox 
the Church." To the influence of this philosophy 
he ascribes the potatoe-disease, and other calamities 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 99 

that have visited the country. He speaks of the 
divine aid and mercy in enabling them to drive away 
the heretics. He says to his flock, that " the Lord 
compassionating your troubled situation, condescended 
to excite and direct, by way of moderation and 
charity (!) your purified religious zeal (!) and 
natural energy, and by an extraordinary mode, 
and perhaps strange in the eyes of the world, to snatch 
from the midst of this flock, already almost torn to 
pieces, that wolf from Scotland. Blessed be the 
God of mercies, and Father of all consolation, who 
thus condescended to succour us, and console us." 
As an expression of their gratitude and joy, in view 
of the things that had been done, he orders that in 
all the churches they " sing the hymn Te Deum 
laudamus." 

When the tidings of the Bartholomew massacre 
reached Rome, in 1572, and the pope and cardinals 
marched to the church of St. Louis to give thanks 
unto God for the victory over the protestants, then 
the pope ordered the "Te Deum laudamus " to be sung. 
What then is the difference between popery in 15 7 2 
and in 1846? And what further evidence do we 
need to prove that it is one and the same at the in- 
terval of three centuries. 

This pastoral was published in the newspapers 
at Madeira, and at the same time was issued as a 
tract. It accused Dr. Kalley of dictating to the 
people those doctrines of yesterday, conceived in impi- 



100 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

ety, by caprice, and extracted from the dark bo- 
som OF PROTESTANTISM." 

Captain T****. states that " a lady connected 
with the Church of England, in Madeira, distributed 
copies of this pastoral as prizes, to the most deserving 
children in the school of which she, and others of our 
countrywomen, have the superintendance and charge." 
Thus she aided the Romish Church in the work of 
persecution. 

In this " pastoral " the bishop exhorts them " to 
unite devoutly their prayers in thanksgiving to the 
Lord for having taken from this people the scourge of 
heresy with which, in the days of his anger, he had 
visited them!'' 

In view of such sentiments as are spread over 
the pages of this document, we are constrained to 
exclaim: what a change must be effected in the 
mind of that bishop ! He will yet see these perse- 
cuted disciples in that vast assembly at the last day, 
and will recognize the Great Judge as their friend 
and advocate. What will be the feelings and the 
despair of all persecutors of the disciples of Christ, 
when they will hear him declare that they have 
persecuted Him, and he will proceed against them 
as such persecutors; 

May the daily prayers, offered by theconverts 
from Madeira for the conversion of those who have 
cast them into prison, and driven them from their 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 101 

country, be graciously answered; so that the final 
destiny of persecutors may not be theirs. 



SECTION" VI. 

State of the Portuguese Refugees at Trinidad. — Missionary 
Report of Rev. Mr. Hewitson, of Scotland. 

Let us now new these persecuted christians after 
their forcible departure from their native country 
under the most afflicting circumstances. Whether 
they would fall into the hands of 'friends or enemies, 
they could not tell. How they could be kept from 
hunger and nakedness, while they had not with 
them the means of procuring food and clothing, they 
could not tell. They were also entirely ignorant of 
their final destination. Like the ancient Patriarch, 
they " went out, not knowing whither they went/' 
In what part of the world they could find a perma- 
nent home, or a place where they might sojourn dur- 
ing the rest of their pilgrimage, was entirely un- 
known to them. 

They had heard that in the island of Trinidad 
they might enjoy liberty of conscience, and freedom 
9* 



102 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

to worship God. This made that island the place 
of greatest attraction to them. The anticipation of 
a country where they might worship God, and 
" search the Scriptures " undisturbed by their ene- 
mies, absorbed, for the time being, all other considera- 
tions. It was something like the anticipation of hea- 
ven to the weary and suffering christian. What was 
country, or wealth, or the luxuries of home, com- 
pared with the undisturbed exercise of christian and 
social worship ! The former they had sacrificed, that 
they might enjoy the latter. They had " taken joy- 
fully the spoiling of their goods, knowing they had in 
heaven a better and an enduring substance.' ' To 
worship God together here, to enjoy the communion 
of saints, and thus to have a pledge, or fortaste of 
that " better country/' was in their estimation the 
most desirable, the richest of earthly privileges. 

In their flight some found refuge in the United 
States and in other countries, but the most of them 
fled to the West India Islands, and the largest com- 
pany to Trinidad. We have some interesting facts 
respecting the character, the influence, and the con- 
dition of the 600 or 700 who found, in Trinidad, a 
temporary shelter from the storm that raged so vio- 
lently at Madeira. 

... The Rev. W. H. Hewitson, of the Free Church 
of Scotland, had labored among the Portuguese at 
Madeira from May 1845 to May 1846. From thence 
he returned to Scotland about three months before 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 103 

the terrible persecution in August, 1846. When he 
heard in Scotland the sad tidings, that those to whom 
he had preached the Gospel, and to whom, he was 
most ardently attached, had passed through such 
" fiery trials, " and had been driven from their coun- 
try, his heart was deeply affected. He resolved at 
once, in the spirit of christian love, to follow them 
in their wanderings, and to seek their spiritual and 
temporal welfare. 

We cannot do better than to spread out before 
the reader the excellent report of Mr. Hewitson. In 
the perusal of this he will become more intimately 
acquainted with the character and peculiar situation 
of this band of exiles. 

" Towards the end of January, 1847, 1 arrived amongst 
the Portuguese converts at Trinidad, intending to pass 
three months in their company, administering word and 
ordinance. The meeting was, on both sides, a very joyful 
one, as may well be supposed from the endearing rela- 
tionship previously subsisting betweeen us in Madeira, 
and formed in circumstances of peril and difficulty, which 
were well fitted to make it more than ordinarily endearing. 

" These dear exiles of the Lord Jesus were in Trini- 
dad two or three months before my arrival. On reaching 
the island, they had necessarily no small hardships and 
privations to undergo. The Lord, however, did not leave 
them, nor forsake them. He had mercifully delivered 
them out of the hands of their enemies at home, and in 
the land of strangers ; He, who is the strangers' God, took 
upon Himself the burden of their cares. He raised up 
some to take them by the hand, and to show them kind- 
ness for His name's sake. Some were found willing to 
spend and be spent, in order to alleviate their fresh diffi- 
culties and distresses. They and their -benefactors were 



104 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

unacquainted with one another's language, — but the in- 
stinctive recognition of the mutual brotherhood in the 
Lord, facilitated intercourse, and made sympathy intel- 
ligible, though not expressed in words. May the blessing 
of our God, who * thinketh upon the poor and needy,' 
come richly down on all who gave to these poor and 
<needy disciples of Jesus ' a cup of cold water,' for Je- 
sus' sake. 

" Before adverting to the spiritual condition of the re- 
fugees, I shall let you know in what way the Lord has 
been pleased to provide for their temporal necessities. 
On their arrival, a considerable number of them were en- 
gaged by planters to labor on sugar estates. Some of 
these were placed on an estate situated in the neighbor- 
hood of marshy ground, and, as might have been expect- 
ed, were soon prostrated by an attack of fever, which, in 
several instances, terminated in death. A speedy remov- 
al of all who survived from the pestilential neighborhood, 
in which they had been so unhappily located, to the more 
salubrious air of the capital, was found to be necessary. 
The removal took place, I believe, in consequence of an 
order from the governor of the island, — and I have great 
pleasure in taking this opportunity of bearing testimony to 
the kind exertions which his excellency, Lord Harris, was 
always ready to make on behalf of the refugees.* Those 
who were employed on sugar plantations in more salu- 
brious localities than the one above referred to, were en- 
bled to continue their labors without experiencing so 
much injury of bodily health ; but they, too, were occa- 
sionally disabled by an attack either of dysentery, or of 
intermittent fever ; — ophtalmia likewise prevailed amongst 
them. I have no hesitation in saying, that the result ot 
the experiment, which necessity constrained them to make, 
lias been unfavorable to the hope that they will be equal 

* " Lord Harris, when at Madeira, had always shown great 
ympathy for the persecuted protestants. J. R. T." 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 105 

to the hardships connected with cane cultivation in Tri 
nidad, until a lengthened residence in the island has in- 
ured them to the scorching heats and drenching rains of 
its tropical climate. When I arrived I found only about 
fifty individuals (including children) who were supported 
by the labors of cane cultivation, and of these only about 
sixteen were actually, or in a condition to be, employed in 
these labors. Others obtained employment on cocoa plan- 
tations ; and, as their labor is chiefly under the shade of 
trees thickly planted, they are saved from the dangerous 
effects of protracted exposure to the rays of a vertical 
sun. One disadvantage of their situation arises from the 
great humidity of the atmosphere, which, in not a few in- 
stances, has occasioned intermittent fever, or ague. 

" The greater proportion of the exiled brethren have 
found occupation in the capital of the island, Port of 
Spain, or its vicinity. Not a few of them are distributed 
in domestic service among the families resident tfciere. 
Some are occupied in gardening and similar rustic labor. 
A few have commenced shopkeeping on a. small scale, 
being unable to gain a livelihood by any other means. 
While those of them who are masons, carpenters, and 
shoemakers, are endeavoring, in their respective depart- 
ments of labor, to earn a livelihood. The female converts, 
who, in Madeira, were able to support themselves by nee- 
dlework, are still dependent on the same means of sup- 
port, but their earnings are comparatively small and pre- 
carious. While some of the brethren are, by the goodness 
of God, in comfortable enough circumstances, not a few 
have such difficulties to struggle with as tend at once to 
keep them hanging in daily dependence on the Lord, and 
to give permanency to the impression — the persuasion in 
their minds, that ' this is not their rest.' May God, of his 
infinite mercy, grant that this tendency of their dependent 
circumstances, and precarious means of support, may be 
manifested in permanent and blessed effect. The troubles 
of Madeira formerly said to them, * Arise ye, and depart, 
for this is not your rest,' — and the difficulties of Trinidad 



106 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

say to them now, ' Arise ye, and depart, for this is not 
your rest.' 

" The state of religion among our fellow-countrymen 
in the latter island is, with a very few exceptions, ex- 
tremely depressed; and it is unnecessary to speak ot 
the state of religion among the French and Spanish Ro- 
man catholic colonists, who have no religion at all. This 
common prevalence of a carnal, or irreligious spirit, ope- 
rates injuriously in regard to the temporal interests of not 
a few of the Portuguese converts, for their religious pro- 
fession and character expose them to the derision, the ne- 
glect, or even the hostility of the godless and profane. 
This remark chiefly, though not exclusively, applies to 
the case of such of the brethren as are in the situation ot 
domestic servants. 

"Passing now to the spiritual state of the refugees, I 
shall take the liberty of transcribing part of a letter 
which I addressed to the editor of ' The English Presby- 
terian Messenger,' and which appeared in that periodical 
four months ago. The letter referred to has the advan- 
tage of embodying the impressions which I had when still 
in the midst of the little church of exiles. The date of 
the letter is, 'Port of Spain, Trinidad, March 30th, 1847.' 
4 Dear brother, it is now two months since I reached Tri- 
nidad, and commenced my labors among the Portuguese 
emigrants. They had previously been meeting regularly 
on Sabbath days, for the purpose of social worship, the 
service being conducted by the elders and deacons. 
Those of them who were communicants before leaving 
Madeira, had likewise enjoyed the privilege of communion 
at the Lord's table in the presbyterian church of this city, 
or in that of Arouca. 

" ' In this island there are a considerable number of 
Portuguese from Madeira, who came here staunch Roman 
catholics ; and of these several have been led, by means 
of intercourse with their converted countrymen, to em- 
brace the protestant faith. Three of these have express- 
ed a desire to be admitted to the Lord's table, and ano- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 107 

ther of them travelled eighteen miles last Saturday even- 
ing in order to attend public worship with us on the 
following day. One of the most recent of the converts 
from popery, and one whose heart seemed to have been 
truly opened by the Lord to receive the word of grace, 
is laboring under a white swelling at the knee, which 
makes amputation necessary, as the only means of saving 
his life. Two or three Sabbaths ago, this man, yielding 
to an irresistible desire to hear the Gospel in public, made 
the dangerous effort of travelling to church on crutches, 
and back again — a painful journey of nearly two miles. 
Surely such as he will rise up in the judgment against 
those who, possessing greater advantages, yet " neglect 
the great salvation," and " forsake the assembling of them- 
selves together " in the house of God. 

" ' The protestants from Madeira who have taken re- 
fuge here, under the banner of Great Britain, already 
amount nearly to the number of four hundred and fifty, 
and there is the prospect of this number being soon in- 
creased by the arrival of at least one hundred* additional 
refugees. Since the month of August last there has 
been a succession of flights from Madeira, and that of the 
now expected band of refugees will form the last. Yet 
there is a seed left behind in Madeira, and the Word of 
God is open in the hands of many. A letter received by 
last packet brings us the joyful intelligence, that " the 
word is running still, and being glorified." The Lord's 
hand will most surely find out all his elect, and the enmity 
of man will, instead of frustrating, be made subservient 
to the purposes of everlasting love. 

" ' Including children, there are more than three hun- 
dred of the converts in Port of Spain and the surrounding 
neighborhood. This is, therefore, the principal scene of 
my labors. Here we have two meetings for worship on 
Sabbath, and one every Tuesday evening. 



* Since increased to upwards of two hundred and fifty. 



108 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

" < We had the Communion here on Sabbath last, when 
eighty-five compassed the Lord's table, all but myself 
being Portuguese. Many of these, I have grounds for 
believing, are strong in faith, fervent in spirit, rejoicing 
in hope of the Lord's glorious appearing, and truly 
desirous of walking with God in the paths of truth and 
holiness. 

" ' During the last two months sixteen or eighteen 
catechumens have been examined and admitted to the 
Lord's table. Some of these, in the course of their ex- 
amination, have given very satisfactory, and in several in- 
stances also, very touching evidences of a work of grace. 
The first awakening, the shining of a new light, the dis- 
covery of the heart's corruption, and of sin's infinite de- 
merit, the discernment of Christ's excellence and suitable- 
ness as the Saviour of the world, the resting upon his 
finished work and constant intercession, the peace of con- 
science, the love to God, the desire of holiness in heart 
and life, the diligent use of means for the end of sanc- 
tification, the inward conflict between the flesh and 
the spirit, the dependence upon Divine grace and love : 
such elements or symptoms of spiritual life have not, so 
far as could be ascertained, been wanting in the expe- 
rience of any of the new communicants above referred to. 
But the evidence afforded of their having been matter of 
experience, was, in a few striking cases, peculiarly clear, 
full, and affecting. I may here observe, on the other hand, 
that among the converts to Protestantism, there are some 
who give unequivocal indication of being still " in the gall 
of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." Of these a few 
have applied to be taken on examination, with a view to 
communion ; and, in one or two cases, I have erased the 
names of such applicants from the list of catechumens, 
pressing on them the necessity of their first having" repen- 
tance toward God, and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ." 
Some belonging to the class referred to seem to have 
great pleasure in hearing the word of God, but are evi- 
dently destitute of spiritual discernment, and of delight 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 109 

in holiness. They have " the lamp " of God's word in their 
hand, but they have not " the oil " of God's grace in their 
heart. But even in their case there is no reason to des- 
pair. They are within hearing the Gospel call, and the 
way of access is still open to the mercy seat. Where sin 
abounds, there grace is still more abundant. We have 
nothing to look to or trust in, but the free grace of God ; 
and if God's grace were not free, sovereign, absolute and 
irrespective of every thing, whether good or bad, in man, 
we might well despair. Free grace is the preacher's hope, 
strength and victory. 

" ' Above one hundred of my people are settled on su- 
gar estates, in cocoa plantations, at the respective dis- 
tances of ten, fourteen and eighteen miles. These I vi- 
sit from time to time, preaching to them in the open air 
under the shadow of the trees, when there is no conve- 
nient place of meeting within doors ; and some of these 
meetings have been pleasant and refreshing. 

" ' In addition to the information above communicated, 
I have only time to say that, in May, when I left the isl- 
and of Trinidad, every thing in the state of the little 
church seerned full of promise and encouragement. Se- 
nhor Arsenio Nicos da Silva, who had been appointed by 
the Free Church of Scotland to go out to Trinidad, and la- 
bor as catechist among his fellow-countrymen and fellow- 
exiles, arrived a few weeks previous to my departure, and 
is now zealously engaged in his " labor of love." Recent 
letters bring the gladdening integllience that the Lord — 
blessed be his holy name — is still giving evidences of his 
gracious presence in the midst of the little church. A- 
bout three hundred meet for public worship on Sabbath > 
and on other occasions a considerable number meet for 
the purpose of uniting in prayer and meditation on the 
Word. A Sabbath school has been commenced, and the 
Portuguese children have thus the opportunity of receiving 
regular instruction, besides that communicated at home, 
in " the way of the Lord." Thirty children, or more than 
that number, are in attendance. There is likewise a day- 
10 



110 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

school, and I hope the means of supporting it will, through 
the Lord's goodness, continue to be supplied. Now, more 
than ever perhaps, the brethren who are " strangers " in 
Trinidad, need the prayers of the church. They are ex- 
posed to temptations more dangerous, because more sub- 
tile and insidiously seductive, than those connected with 
a persecution state. To be attracted by the world, under 
its mask of a graceless protestantism, is worse than to be 
repelled by the world under its undisguised form of ha- 
tred to the truth. Let the church then, — even all who 
love the Lord Jesus, and who have heretofore poured 
forth supplications in behalf of the persecuted saints of 
Madeira, — continue in earnest prayer for them to the Lord, 
that they may be " kept from falling-, and presented fault- 
less before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." 
It is good, as well as pleasant, to show brotherly love to 
those whom Jesus is " not ashamed to call his brethren," 
and to bear on our hearts in prayer those whom Jesus 
bears on his heart, as objects of his high-priestly interces- 
sion before his Father's throne.' 

" Such is Mr. Hewitson's interesting account of this 
little colony of exiles. And it may here, perhaps, be as 
well to mention that Mr. Hewitson's ministrations at Ma- 
deira were wholly independent of Dr. Kalley, who was 
not even aware of his intended mission to the island till 
after Mr. Hewitson's departure from England. They first 
met accidentally in Lisbon, and it is important that the 
reader, in his judgment of Dr. Kalley, should keep in his 
mind his entire independence of the labors of other 
protestants in the great and common cause at Madeira. 
Dr. Kalley had always strictly kept himself within the 
limits unjustly assigned to him by the decision of the 
court of Relacao at Lisbon. Indeed, so uniformly had he 
done this, that, although a law of the inquisition, dated 
1603 was brought into operation against him, a law which 
could not have been acted on against a subject of Portugal, 
in consequence of its direct opposition, both to the spirit and 
letter of the existing constitution, his very enemies could 
brino- n# charge against him." 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. Ill 

This pleasing history of the spiritual state of the 
Portuguese converts in Trinidad, furnishes delightful 
evidence of the genuineness of the work at Madeira. 
Here we see the fruits of it, and they are of such a 
character as to commend this work to our confidence. 
Surely it is the Spirit of God that brought these 
souls out of the dense papal darkness that shrouded* 
Madeira, that made them willing to make sacrifices 
and to suffer for the sake of the Gospel, and now 
causes them, in a strange land, to show forth the 
power of the Gospel by the holiness of their lives. 



SECTION VII. 



The American Protestant Society send Rev. M. G. Gonsalves 
to Trinidad — Letters of Rev. Arsenio Nicos De Silva to 
the Society — Letters of Rev. Alexander Kennedy — 
Appeal for the Portuguese — Sublime object for benevo- 
lence. 

When we heard of the arrival of these 600 refu- 
gees in Trinidad, a deep interest was awakened within 
us, to inquire into their spiritual and temporal condi- 
tion. To make such inquiry, the American Protes- 
tant Society sent their Portuguese missionary, ReVi 



112 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

M. G. Gonsalves, to Trinidad, in the winter of 1847 
and '48. He was born in the Roman catholic church 
at Madeira. Since he became a protestant he has 
resided in this country, and for several years has been 
the missionary of the Society among the 5000 or 
6000 Portuguese who live on our New England sea 
coast, and are chiefly engaged in the whaling business. 

Mr. Gorfsalves found the Portuguese in Trinidad 
in a state of spiritual prosperity. They gave most 
pleasing evidence of their sincerity and faith in sacri- 
ficing property, friends and country, for the sake of 
the Gospel. The meetings he attended with them 
were seasons of refreshing from the presence of the 
Lord. Their hearts seemed to be alive to the vital, 
the immortal interests of the soul. The pastor and 
teacher of this exiled flock was the Rev. Mr. De 
Silva, a native convert from Madeira. Of this excel- 
lent and heavenly- minded man we shall give a more 
full history in another part of this volume. 

Suffice it here to state, that he was toiling faith- 
fully and exhausting his bodily strength for the be- 
nefit of his people. To promote their highest interests, 
both in this world and that to come, was the begin- 
ning and the end of all his plans and labors. For the 
welfare of the Portuguese he lived, and for them he 
would die. 

While our Portuguese brethren were rejoicing 
together in the cheering hopes of a brighter world, 
their temporal prospects were dark and dishearten- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 113 

ing. They were industrious and frugal in their habits. 
They were farmers, and various kinds of mechanics. 
They were ready and anxious to sustain themselves 
by the labor of their hands ; but they could not find 
employment on the island, that promised a sufficient 
support for their families. They were in a suffering 
state, and were looking for a home in some other part 
of the world. Their attention had been directed to 
the United States, as a free and happy country, where 
they would receive christian sympathy, enjoy perfect 
freedom of worship, and might sustain themselves by 
their own labor. 

When Mr. Gonsalves returned, Mr. De Silva ad- 
dressed a very interesting letter to the executive 
board of the American Protestant Society. In this 
letter, which will appear in another part of this work, 
he sets forth very clearly the suffering state of his 
brethren in Trinidad, stated their object in desiring 
to emigrate to this country, and appealed, through 
the society, for aid from the protestants in America. 
He also declared his willingness to go with his peo- 
ple to any part of the world where they could enjoy 
the blessings of the Gospel. 

Soon after the reception of this letter from Mr. 
De Silva, the Society issued an appeal to the Ameri- 
can people, calling upon them to aid our Portuguese 
brethren in emigrating to this country, and also in 
purchasing lands where they might be located toge- 
ther as a colony. 

10* 



114 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

This appeal closed as follows : 

" Such an appeal has never been made to us. Six 
hundred persons, recently from the persecutions and pri- 
sons of their native country, ask a home among us. Shall 
they be denied? They ask not for money, but land. 
Shall we refuse it ! We have frequent appeals for mis- 
sionaries and colporteurs at the West. Here is an op- 
portunity of sending 600 at once, all converts from the 
church of Rome, who will be faithful witnesses for the 
truth in the midst of Romanists on our new lands. The 
expense will be much less than is required to send out in- 
dividuals from time to time by different societies. It will 
be such a colony as has not been planted in the West. 
Who can tell the results of it? Shall there be a response 
to this appeal, or shall we say, " Stay and suffer in Trini- 
dad, or return to the persecutions and prisons of Madei- 
ra?" Shall we who enjoy the luxury of freedom, thus 
trifle with the sufferings of the oppressed ? Shall we 
thus shut off sympathy for the persecuted, and benevo- 
lence for the destitute ? 

" Among these persecuted people are Mrs. Alves, her 
husband, children and sister. Mrs. Alves was sentenced 
to suffer death by the papal court at Madeira because she 
would not say that the wafer, in the hands of the priest, 
was God. She and her sister were confined about three 
years in the dungeons of Madeira. 

" We call upon protestants to furnish the means of 
defraying the expenses of the passage of these homeless peo- 
ple to our shores, and of purchasing new lands for them. 
Their condition is such that there should be no delay. 
Literally, they are strangers and pilgrims, having no cer- 
tain dwelling-place. Shall this be to them the land of 
promise, where they may find rest from the persecutions 
of their enemies ?" 

Immediately after tbe publication of this appeal, 
expressions of sympathy were made in various parts 
of the country. These came to the society in +1 






CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 115 

of donations for the persecuted Portuguese. They 
were pledges of the interest awakened in the bene- 
volent community in behalf of this suffering people. 
There is a feeling or sentiment in the human breast 
that responds to the calls of those who are unjustly 
persecuted. Such appeals especially awaken, and call 
into exercise, the benevolence of the Gospel. What 
a field for the action of benevolence is here pre- 
sented. Here are six hundred christian exiles, driven 
from their country on account of their adherence to 
the simple truths of the Gospel, having no home, no 
means of support, and ready to go to any land where 
they can enjoy religious liberty. In their helplessness 
they stretch out their hands towards us, and implore 
our aid. They beseech us to give them a home on 
our prairies, or in our western forests, where they 
may cultivate the soil, worship God without perse- 
cution, and educate their children in the principles of 
Christianity, and find a peaceful grave. 

There is not only a heavenly charity in the bene- 
volence that should secure these comforts and privi- 
leges to these homeless and deeply afflicted disciples, 
but there is a noble and generous sublimity in the 
object. What enterprise more grand and sublime 
than the planting of such a colony of christians! 
Another company so numerous, and rescued from 
such scenes of suffering, is not to be found on the 
globe. What benevolent heart and hand could be 
closed against their claims % Who would not desire 



116 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

to see the influence of such a colony at the West, 
especially upon the church of Rome ? Who would 
not desire that these six hundred expatriated Portu- 
guese, with their posterity, should rise from this soil 
in the resurrection at the last day. 



SECTION VIII, 



Arrival of sixty or seventy Portuguese in New-York, under 
the care of the American Protestant Society — Appeal for 
clothing and provisions — Response — Character of these 
converts — Instances of personal suffering — Imprisonment 
— Escape, tyc. <$-c. 

While the appeal for six hundred sufferers was 
before the American people, and the subject of funds 
to defray the expense of emigration, and to purchase 
lands for them, was agitated ; while we were prepar- 
ing to send for them as soon as the means could be 
obtained, a number arrived in this city. Upwards of 
fifty of them came directly from Trinidad, and nine 
from the island of St. Kitts, where about one hun- 
dred had fled from Madeira. These persons had ob- 
tained the means of paying their passage. Many 
others of their brethren and sisters would have come 
with them, could their passage have been paid. But 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 117 

on account of their poverty they were obliged to se- 
parate from each other. Parents and children, hus- 
bands and wives, brothers and sisters, were separated 
by the sailing of this company. This added much to 
their trials, although there was a perfect agreement 
among themselves respecting the persons who should 
come at this time. Those who remained on the isl- 
ands were sustained by the hope of meeting their 
friends in this country in some future day, if God 
should open the way before them. 

These sixty or seventy exiles came to the Ameri- 
can Protestant Society for advice, for protection, and 
for support. Upon their arrival they were taken to 
the Sailor's Home, and boarded at the expense of the 
Society. As they were ignorant of our language it 
was impossible to obtain immediate employment for 
them. The society judged that, at present, it would 
be more economical, as well as more pleasant, for the 
Portuguese, to rent buildings in which they might 
reside, where we might supply them with daily pro- 
visions. This was done, and from August last to the 
present time, (March,) they have been sustained by 
the Society, through the benevolence of the christian 
community. Efforts were made to send them to the 
West during the past autumn, but without success. 
To send them there without any suitable arrange- 
ment for their comfort and support, would justly 
have exposed the society to the censure of an intelli- 
gent community. The only course, therefore, was to 



118 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

keep them here until spring, when we trusted that 
God, in his kind providence, would direct them to a 
home in the West. 

When they landed they were not only without 
the means of subsistence in a strange country, sur- 
rounded by those who spoke an unknown language, 
but they were also without any clothing suitable for 
the approaching winter. An appeal was made to the 
christian community for clothing and food for these 
destitute and exiled disciples. The response to this 
appeal was so prompt and liberal as to give cheering 
evidence of the existence of christians in our land 
who sympathize with the Saviour in the person of 
his suffering people. The offerings came from various 
sections of the country. The aged and the young, the 
rich and the poor contributed. 

Many of the contributions were accompanied with 
expressions of sympathy and interest that were very 
grateful and consolatory to these persecuted chris- 
tians. Frequently have we seen the tear of gratitude 
start from the eye, when they were informed of the 
kind sentiments expressed in these communications, 
and of the donations for them. Repeatedly have we 
heard the response from their lips that were wholly 
incompetent to utter the feelings of their hearts, 
" We thank God first, for all these things, and then 
we thank the people, the kind, christian people." 

The friends of the persecuted have often request- 
ed a narrative of the sufferings of these exiled chris- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 119 

tians. To give a full history of the personal sacrifices, 
imprisonment and sufferings of each individual, would 
swell this volume beyond our original design. Yet 
we will give the reader such a collection of incidents 
and facts as will show that their sufferings have not 
been of an ordinary character, and such as, we trust, 
will impress upon his mind a deeper sense of obliga- 
tion to God for civil and religious liberty than he has 
ever felt. 

At the same time we will give a brief sketch of 
some of the interesting incidents connected with their 
conversion, showing how the spirit of God has led 
them from papal darkness into the glorious light of 
the Gospel. 

The following instance of conversion we give just 
as it has been narrated to us by the person himself : 

In the year 1841, on the 14th of August, K 
Vieira and two young friends, having heard of the 
fame of Dr. Kalley, while on their way to the feast 
of the celebrated virgin of the mountain, called on 
the doctor merely out of curiosity. 

After the usual interchange of salutations, accord- 
ing to the customs of the Portuguese, £T. Vieira said, 
Dr. Kalley, we wish to purchase a Testament for our 
friend Henry. Who will teach Henry to read the 
good book 1 said Dr. Kalley. I will, said N". Vieira. 

Dr. Kalley. Can you read ? 

JV. Vieira. Yes, sir, I have read the catechism 
for six years past- in a school. 



120 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

Dr. K. Do you believe there is a God ? 

N. V. Yes, sir, I do believe in God. 

Dr. K. Give me some sure proof of His ex- 
istence. 

N. V. He made the ocean and the fire. 

Dr. K. Do you believe you are a sinner ? 

N. V. Yes, sir, we are all sinners. 

Dr. K. How do you expect to be saved ? 

N. V. By my good works. 

Dr. K. Good works ! What good works have 
you done to satisfy the demands of God's law against 
your sins \ 

N. V. If I clothe and feed the poor, these good 
works will take me to heaven, after passing through 
the purifying fires of purgatory. 

Dr. K. My friend, Christ came into the world to 
save you. He has given his life for you ; now believe 
in Christ, read his words of advice which are found 
in the Bible. Read in the sacred book the kind invi- 
tations of his Gospel. 

N. V. Sacred Bible ! I do not know such a book. 
I never saw one. 

Dr. K. Here is one. I will make you a present 
of this holy Book if you promise to read it every day 
to your family after the labors of the day. When 
you find any passage you cannot comprehend, write 
down all the points, and when you come to the city 
bring them to me. I shall be always happy to 
see you. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 121 

These young men walked away with the good 
Book. N. Vieira gathered his mother, and two 
brothers and two sisters in a family circle, and com- 
menced reading God's word. He began with the 
creation of the world and continued to read about 
the wonderful works of God, until their interest was 
so great that they could not keep it to themselves ; 
so they spoke to their neighbors and friends, from 
house to house, of this new and wonderful book. 
After a few months N. Vieira returned to Dr. Kalley, 
and informed him of the great interest he felt in the 
Bible, and how he had found his Saviour, and his 
own dear mother and others were weeping over their 
sins. After inquiring after Henry, the young man 
who had received the New Testament, Dr. Kalley in- 
formed N. Vieira that he had established several 
schools in various parts of the Island, and would like 
to have such a person as N. Vieira to live with him, 
and occasionally visit his schools, and speak to teach- 
ers and scholars of the love of Jesus Christ, the Sa- 
viour. After consulting his family, though they could 
not very well spare him from the labors of his farm, 
he gladly accepted this offer. 

Dr. Kalley having established a hospital for the 
sick, requested N. Vieira to read the Bible to the sick 
every morning. This he did, and felt the blessing of 
Christ resting upon his soul while engaged in this 
good work. As the hot season drew near Dr. Kalley 
hired a country seat for the summer in a mountainous 
11 



122 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

district, called St. Antonio Da Serra. Here Dr. Kalley 
established a school and appointed Henry schoolmas- 
ter. Many of the friends and neighbors of N. Vieira 
came to learn to read and to hear the word of God, 
the school being established in his own house. 

In the year 1843 the Rev. Mr. Weed arrived 
from Scotland to take charge of the Scotch church. 
As he was about to administer the Lord's Supper on 
the Sabbath, N". Yieira and another Portuguese con- 
vert by the name of Francisco Pires Soares, requested 
permission to partake of the holy communion. Dr. 
Kalley told them of the consequences that might 
follow. But they were firm in the faith of Jesus, and 
by the grace of God were ready to die for the name 
of the Lord Jesus. Their greatest desire was that 
Dr. K. might not suffer for their sakes. After being 
duly examined by the protestant ministers, they 
were admitted. This took place full two years after 
these brethren had forsaken the church of Rome. 
Four days after the communion 1ST. Vieira was brought 
before the magistrates, charged with having abjured 
the religion of his fathers, and the religion of the 
Portuguese government. 

1ST. Yieira answered the authorities with much firm- 
ness, to the import that he had never received reli- 
gion from his carnal parents ; that he now enjoyed 
pure religion in his heart, which he had received 
from his Heavenly Father ; he had found his Saviour, 
who is Christ the Lord. And, said he, as to purga- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 123 

tory, I cannot find it in my Bible. The mere forms 
of religion k*ave never quenched my thirst, but now 
I have found a pure fountain in God's Word, which 
satisfies my soul. 

Question by the Judge. Do you believe in the 
crucifix, that we should worship the image on the 
cross ? 

N. V. Nay ; God is a Spirit, and they who 
worship him, must worship in the spirit and in the 
truth. 

Judge. Very well ; go in peace. 

There was a scribe present, on the part of the 
government, who wrote down all the answers. 

On the next Sabbath the excommunication of 
N. V. and his friend, F. P. S., was pronounced by the 
parish priests in all the churches, forbidding, by the 
anathema of the church of Rome, the receiving them 
into the houses of the people, or of giving them even 
a drink of water. The ignorant portion of the peo- 
ple were afraid of the Jesuits, thinking they had all 
power in heaven and earth. But those who had ex- 
amined the Bible, thought well of the converts, and 
approved of their firmness on the side of truth. In 
the midst of these trials the Bible was searched with 
more intense interest. At the same time the priests 
and the government officers were determined that 
the first two protestant Portuguese communicants 
should be severely punished, that others might be 
deterred from forsaking the Man of Sin. One of the 



124 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

Portuguese converts, a young woman by the name 
of Ursula, overheard some conversation about the 
arrest and imprisonment of N. V. and F. P. S., and 
hastened to the house of Dr. K. and informed them 
of the immediate danger, for it was determined that 
these two should die, as a public example, that the 
people might be saved from Bible heresy. Ursula 
had scarcely time to relate her story when the loud 
rap of the police was heard at the doctor's gates. 
The doctor immediately removed his library case, 
there being, providentially, a niche in the wall. 
There he hid his two friends in a narrow space. Hav- 
ing placed the library case back again into its accus- 
tomed place, he personally assisted the police in 
searching the whole house, even through the ladies' 
apartments — some of them being sick at the time. 
After a useless search the police went away, hoping 
for better success some other time. 

These brethren were hidden in the houses of their 
friends for about six months, until a manifesto arriv- 
ed from Lisbon, saying that no one should be perse- 
cuted or molested for religious opinions. But the 
faith of Roman catholic governments is no security ; 
it is but a mere spider's web to destroy those who 
have been made free by the grace of God. 

N. Y. returned again to the arms of his mother 
and friends. He exchanged places with Henry. 
Henry came to Dr. K.'s house, and If. V. took charge 
of the Biblical school established by Dr. K. in his 
own house. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 125 

When the authorities saw N. V. at the head of 
the school, and that his mother, two brothers and 
two sisters paid no regard to the confessional, and 
rendered no obedience to the priests, they were very 
^much enraged, and resolved to arrest him. Two 
officers with eighteen men surrounded his house at 
night. He awoke from his midnight slumbers, and 
finally fled to the mountains. A company of two 
hundred soldiers was sent by the government to ar- 
rest him. They pursued him upwards of a month, 
but were not able to find him. During this time he 
never slept under a roof, but on the soil, or in caves 
of the earth, or in trees of thick foliage. He had no 
change of linen, and was reduced to a state of starva- 
tion. 

During his flight, on one day he came in sight of 
the large mansion in which his mother lived, about 
five miles from the city. As he looked down from 
the mountains he saw the soldiers approach the old 
mansion to arrest his mother and family, and to take 
them to prison. His mother, his sister and her hus- 
band, and a woman living in the family, were seized 
by the soldiers. One of his brothers, in delicate 
health, was taken, and was compelled to eat food 
that was nauseous to him, with the threat that if he 
refused they would knock him down. 

Having secured their victims, they broke the fur- 
niture, cut open the beds and scattered their contents 
over the house. They then started with their cap- 



126 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

tives for prison. They held in their hands a long 
stick with a sharp-pointed iron in the end of it, that 
is used to drive their cows to pasture. The old lady 
being somewhat advanced in age, did not travel as 
fast as they desired. "With this, therefore, they 
pierced the flesh of his mother, hastening her to- 
wards the prison, and saying " Go along, protestant 
granny," or some other epithet of contempt. From 
this sad spectacle he turned again to the mountains 
in the deepest agony. For a moment he felt as 
though his soul would sink within him. What to do 
he knew not. His mother, sisters and brother had 
gone to prison. Many of the converts were there 
already, and others, like himself, were fleeing, pur- 
sued by their persecutors. At that instant, when his 
courage and his faith were severely tested, the 35th 
and 36th verses of the 8th chapter of Romans came 
home to his heart with power. While thinking upon 
these verses, so peculiarly appropriate to his own 
case and the state of his brethren, there came into 
his soul the consolation and the triumph of the per- 
secuted disciples found in the last three verses of the 
same chapter, 37-39. Now he was prepared for 
suffering and for death, as the Lord might appoint. 
He continued to elude the soldiers who pursued 
him until he was almost exhausted for the want of 
food. The manner in which he was saved from death 
is worthy of notice. The place in which he had con- 
cealed himself was unknown to the christians as well 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 127 

as to the soldiers. There was only one human being 
that knew where he was, and that was a Roman 
catholic girl. Her heart was moved with compas- 
sion for these suffering christians. She did not dare 
to tell any one, not even her parents, that she knew 
where he could be found. But she stealthily took 
flour from the barrel, when her mother was absent, 
and baked a cake in the ashes. She then rolled it 
in her apron, and seizing an opportunity, she ran 
into the mountains and gave it to him. On this he 
lived four days. This cake, and this only, with the 
blessing of God, kept him from starvation and gave 
him strength to reach the deck of a British vessel. 
He sailed first to Demarara, then to Trinidad, and 
finally to this city. 

The reader will naturally inquire after the girl 
that was the means of saving his life. The kindness 
of her heart towards the persecuted could not long 
be concealed from the spies around her. This kind- 
ness betrayed her. She was suspected of heresy, 
and was obliged to flee for her life. She chose af- 
fliction with the people of God, rather than the quiet 
and pleasures of home. She escaped from those who 
sought her life, to a vessel in the harbor, and sailed 
for St. Vincent. There she was seized with fever 
and soon found a grave on the island. 

The mother, the woman who lived with her, and 
a sister and brother-in-law of this persecuted bro- 
ther, who, with about twenty others, were arrested at 



128 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

the same time, were put on board of the Portuguese 
frigate Diana, the largest frigate in the Portuguese 
navy. The officers at first pretended that the pri- 
soners were all to be taken to Lisbon to be tried for 
heresy ; but, a few days after this, they were all shut 
up in the dungeon of Funchal, where they were kept 
in close confinement about two years. 

In this dungeon the government made no provi- 
sion for the poor prisoners. Unless fed by the hand 
of charity they must die by starvation. Had it not 
been for the kindness of foreign residents, who minis- 
tered to their daily necessities, these sufferers would 
have perished by starvation. 

When about two years had elapsed from the 
time of their arrest, the above prisoners, with many 
others, were released, with permission to leave Ma- 
deira for the British islands, or, perhaps more cor- 
rectly, they were released on condition they would 
leave for ever their native island. 

One of the ships freighted with these expatriated 
christians touched at Demarara. Among those who 
came to the wharf to look at the strangers, was the 
brother whose persecutions we have just narrated, 
who had made Demarara the place of his solitary 
residence. To his utter surprise and unspeakable 
joy, he found on board his mother, his brothers and 
his sisters, and friends whom he left in the dungeon 
in Funchal two years before. Of the unutterable 
emotions produced by such an unexpected and joy- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 129 

ful meeting, in circumstances so rare and thrilling, 
we may imagine, but it is idle to attempt a descrip- 
tion. Such a reunion of friends after such a separa- 
tion, symbolizes, or more closely resembles, the re- 
union of the people of God in heaven than any event 
we have ever witnessed. 

They all remained some months at Demarara, 
where they suffered severely from the fevers that 
prevailed on the island. When they recovered they 
sailed for Trinidad, where they joined their brethren 
and sisters who had fled before them. Some of this 
company are now here and others are in Trinidad. 

The mother of N. T. V., whom he saw bound by 
the soldiers and taken to prison, is yet in Trinidad, 
because her passage could not be paid when her son 
sailed for New- York. The contrast between her 
present and former situation is very great. At Ma- 
deira she occupied a large mansion, about five miles 
from the city of Funchal — her house well supplied 
with servants, and filled with the luxuries of the isl- 
and. But now, in Trinidad, she lives in a small room, 
ten or twelve feet square, and subsists on the plain- 
est diet, and is. grateful when she can obtain it. Yet, 
she says, she is more happy in that little room than 
she was in Madeira when she had plenty of servants 
and an abundance of this world's goods. 

This christian lady has not only sacrificed all of 
her worldly possessions for the sake of the Gospel, 
but she is also separated from her husband. He re- 



130 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

mains a Roman catholic, and lives in quiet possession 
of the property. 

Another family, among those who are now with 
us, who were known to be the friends of the Bible 
and of social seasons of prayer, were obliged to fly 
from the fury of their persecutors. To this family 
Mr. De Silva frequently came in the evening, when 
a few converts would be present. The whole time 
was occupied in prayer, in reading the Scriptures, 
and in conversation respecting the meaning of the 
passages they read. This house was about a mile 
from the residence of Mr. De Silva, and he was al- 
ways expected to take the lead of the meeting. But 
this interesting and devoted circle of christians were 
discovered by the priests, and they determined to 
scatter this band of inoffensive brethren, who were so 
pleasantly and profitably engaged in the worship of 
God. The plan that had been formed of burning 
this house was providentially made known to the 
family. At that time the houses of the converts 
were often set on fire while the inmates were asleep. 
By this timely warning the family fled to the moun- 
tains, where they wandered for eighty days, when 
they providentially reached a vessel and sailed for 
Trinidad. 

Another family among these sufferers deserves a 
special notice. The father of this family was a very 
respectable and wealthy citizen. He was the largest 
land- owner on the island. His land covered four 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 131 

miles in extent. He was also an officer of the 
government, and highly respected. This man was 
reported to the government as one who read the 
Bible in his family, and who denied that the wafer 
was the real blood and real body of Jesus Christ. 
The warrant was made out, he was arrested and 
brought before the court. He was required to do 
so no more ; the Bible must be taken from his fami- 
ly, and he must renounce his heresy about the con- 
secrated host, or wafer, and must submit himself to 
the rules of the Roman catholic church. These re- 
quirements, he very calmly, yet decidedly, assured the 
court, were of such a character, and so utterly at 
variance with his conscientious convictions of duty, 
that he could not submit to them. The court remind- 
ed him that the consequences would be very serious 
if he did not do as he was required. He replied, 
that whatever the consequences might be, his con- 
victions of truth and duty were clear and unshaken. 
He gave the court to understand that his mind would 
not be changed by any prospect of suffering within 
their power to inflict. 

Before sentence was passed upon him, the coiu*t 
acknowledged that he was a very respectable citizen, 
— that he had never violated the laws of his country ; 
but as, in the present instance, he would oppose 
their wishes by refusing to do what they required, 
and as they had the power, they must punish him. 
Sentence was then pronounced against him. He was 



132 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

taken from his family and shut up in prison. For 
three tedious years he was confined in a gloomy 
dungeon. This was the penalty for reading the 
Word of God, and refusing to adore the wafer under 
a Roman catholic government. 

We have been much pleased with the excellent spi- 
rit manifested by this persecuted brother. We inquired 
of him whether he did not think it was hard to lie in the 
dungeon three years, when he was not conscious of any 
crime. " Oh ! no," he replied, " it is not hard, if you 
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Bible." We 
then remarked that " Paul and Silas prayed and sang 
praises to God at midnight," in the prison, therefore 
it was possible to be happy, even in a dungeon. He 
replied, he often thought of Paul and Silas at that 
hour of the nigrht, for he was awake, and he wanted 
to sing the praises of God in the night, but he was 
forbidden by the priests and officers to sing in prison. 

It deserves to be recorded that the converts were 
confined with the common criminals of the country, 
who were singing their vile songs, both night and day, 
undisturbed, while the first note of praise from a 
christian sufferer was the signal for severer punish- 
ment. The privilege granted by pagan Rome, to Paul 
and Silas in the prison at Philippi, was refused by pa- 
pal Rome to the converts in the prisons of Madeira. 

There is another family among these refugees of 
whom we may say a few words. The Portuguese 
say of the father of this family, he was not only a rich 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 133 

man, but a very rich man in Madeira. In conversa- 
tion with him a short time since, some facts in his 
history were incidentally brought to view. Pointing 
him to some grape-vines near us, he remarked that 
the grape-vines had saved him and his family from 
prison. I requested him to explain how this was 
done. He replied that he and his family were obliged 
to flee for their lives from their house. They fled 
into the mountains among the vineyards, and there 
they were concealed under the vines. The soldiers 
and the priests were unable to find them, so that in- 
stead of being thrown into prison, through a kind 
Providence, they were directed to a vessel on their 
coast, and were landed at Trinidad. 

This family occupied a large house in the city, 
with grounds in the rear covered with vines, and a 
rich variety of plants and flowers. To be driven from 
such a home, to sleep on the earth with no shelter 
but the vine, and to be driven from their country, 
leaving all, is surely a great reverse of circumstances. 
The case is painfully aggravated when we call to 
mind the cause of all these changes. It was simply 
because this family held fast to the Bible, as a trea- 
sure above all price ; because they would obey the 
Saviour of the world when he commands " Search 
the Scriptures," and disobey the Roman church, 
who forbid their search ; this is the reason why they 
have suffered such things, and now seek a home in a 
foreign country. 



134 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

Another family, consisting of father, mother, and 
a son three years of age, fled and hid in a cave. 
There they lived, and like David, offered their impor- 
tunate prayers to God from the darkness and soli- 
tude of a cave. Ps. 142. Here they were secured 
from the police, and were at last permitted to reach 
a vessel in safety, and sailed for Trinidad. 

Mr. Sylvester and his wife, another family, are 
the most advanced in life, being about sixty years of 
age. To us it seems hard and cruel that these excel- 
lent people should be driven from their native home, 
when about to be buried with their fathers. But 
they endure these violent changes not only with sub- 
mission to their heavenly Father, but with cheerful- 
ness, with unwavering faith in the promises of the 
Gospel. Yet their bodily health has suffered by ex- 
posure and changes of climate and of habits of life. 
This venerable man is now very feeble, confined to 
his room. His brethren say " he is looking out for 
other parts, he does not expect to be here only a 
short time, he looks for a home with God in heaven!" 
Every day his brethren read the word of God in 
Portuguese, and offer prayer at his bedside. 

We inquired of him whether his faith was strong 
in Jesus Christ. He replied, " Yes, my only hope is 
#in him. If I have not faith in him I have -nothing, 
nothing. Faith is all that is left for me." 

Do you feel the presence of the Saviour on your 
sick bed % " Yes, I have no doubt of his presence. 
He is with me." 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 135 

Is your faith as strong now as at any former 
time ? " My faith in Jesus Christ is as strong as it 
has been at any time, but I do not say it is strong 
enough.'" 

His wife is also very delicate, and probably not 
far from the end of her pilgrimage, but she is sus- 
tained in all her trials by " a lively hope " in Him who 
is "the resurrection and the life." Two sons and two 
daughters are with them, who indulge the same 
blessed hope of salvation through the blood of the 
cross. One of the daughters, a young lady, was the 
first of the family to take the Bible and to read it. 
She was the agent in the hands of God in bringing 
the rest of the farnily to a knowledge of the Gospel. 

When we asked how it came to pass that this 
family had not been in prison with their brethren, 
they quickly replied, " We fly, we fly, that is the 
reason." 

Among these refugees is still another man and 
his wife, who have been great sufferers. They were 
the inmates of the prison nearly two years. He was 
not only bound as the others were, but his hands 
were crossed, and tied fast with a strong leather 
strap. His wrists became perfectly black by the 
pressure. But like the others, they rejoiced that 
they were counted worthy to suffer for the sake of 
Christ. Their days and nights of imprisonment were 
seasons of sweet and precious communion with the 
Saviour, who forsakes not his persecuted people. 



136 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

Of these brethren we may say " they have taken 
joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that 
they have in heaven a better and an enduring sub- 
stance." Time would fail to relate the many inte- 
resting incidents connected with their conversion, 
their persecutions, and their flight from their native 
country ; incidents that make visible the hand and 
the guidance of Him who led Israel with a " pillar 
of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night." That 
same hand, we trust, will " lead them through the 
deep " into our western wilderness. There, joined by 
their brethren who are now from the islands of the 
sea looking for a home in our country, they will form 
such a colony as has not been planted on our soil 
since our Puritan fathers landed on Plymouth Rock. 
May God hasten that blessed day. 

Such a coloDy will be a living memorial of the 
persecutions of the church of Rome in the 19 th cen- 
tury — a living testimony of the triumphs of the Gos- 
pel over the superstition and the delusion of ages in 
Madeira, and a living monument to all the world that 
our country is the asylum for the oppressed of all 
nations. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 13V 



SECTION IX. 

Rev. Arsenio Nicas Da Silva — His conversion, activity 
and usefulness — Persecution — Struck by a priest — An 
exile in Trinidad — Ordained pastor of six hundred Por- 
tuguese exiles — His arrival at New-York — Sickness — 
Death and burial — His life and character — Reflections — 
Letter of Rev. Mr Hewitson, §c. fyc. 

One of the converts at Madeira may claim a spe- 
cial and an extended notice. His rank among his 
countrymen — the interesting incidents connected 
with his conversion — the sacrifices he made — his 
self-denying and useful labors for his exiled breth- 
ren — the place and circumstances of his death, and 
his unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as he 
closed his earthly career — all these unite in present- 
ing him before us as one of the most remarkable 
men of the age. His name is connected with some 
of the most astonishing and thrilling events of this 
century. Rev. Arsenio Nicos Da Silva will be re- 
membered in future times. He not only belongs to 
that class who are "to be in everlasting remem- 
brance," but he is eminent among them. When we 
contemplate the high moral qualities he exhibited, 
and regard them as the fruits of his faith in the Gos- 
pel, we find much to commend the religion of Jesus 
to the earnest attention of all men. Such a religion 
12* 



138 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

must be from heaven, and it makes an appeal to 
every man's conscience to embrace it. Its claims 
upon the love and obedience of all men, can be re- 
jected only by an increase of guilt and of danger to 
the soul. 

The dealings of God with this man, and the re- 
markable scenes through which he passed, may be 
both interesting and instructive to the reader. There 
is something so primitive and apostolic in his life and 
faith, that we are carried back to the times when 
men " counted not their lives dear unto themselves," 
but sacrificed them for the Gospel. 

A brief sketch of the life and death of Mr. Da 
Silva has already been published by the Society, but 
it is our present design to give a more minute and 
full history of this excellent man. The facts and 
incidents of this narrative we have derived from 
those who were personally acquainted with him at 
Madeira. 

Arsenio Nicos Da Silva, the son of Gaspar Dinto 
Da Silva, was born in 1800, in the city of Funchal. 
The residence of his father was in a pleasant part of 
the city, where he cultivated a garden with so much 
taste that it attracted the attention of foreigners who 
visited the island. They frequently came to visit the 
grounds and see the rich variety of grapes, plants 
and flowers, which Mr. Da Silva nurtured with so 
much care. 

The old gentleman and his wife were strongly 



1 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 139 

attached to the Roman church, and believed the 
priests were the holiest and the greatest of men. 
They appeared to be conscientious believers in the 
rites and infallibility of their church. They were not 
only faithful in their observance of the various cere- 
monies enjoined by the church, but they also desired 
to train their children in the same way. Among 
their children were two sons, Arsenio and Casimiro. 
According to the custom of the church, they were 
daily presented before the image of the blessed vir- 
gin in the church of Carmo by their parents, who 
besought the Virgin to accept of them as candidates 
for the priest's office. 

These sons, as they grew up, were sent to the 
best schools on the island ; and every thing was done, 
on the part of the parents, to secure all the advanta- 
ges in their power to perfect their education. They 
became fond of their books, and were veiy diligent 
in their studies. 

The time finally arrived when their preparatory 
studies being finished, their teachers reported they 
were prepared to enter the theological seminary, 
after receiving minor orders in the church. 

[Now came an hour of trial for these anxious pa- 
rents. The sons, who were at this period young 
men, were unwilling to become priests. They had 
seen and learned so much of the conduct, and the 
sins of the priests, they were opposed to a profession 
that would associate them with such men. The pa- 



140 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

rents, with the deepest solicitude, even with tears, 
besought them to remember the expense of their 
education, the vows and prayers made to the Virgin, 
&c. Their father- confessor tried to persuade then 
to enter the priesthood, but he could not succeed 

Casimiro seems to have had a very avaricious dis 
position, as is said also to be the fact with respect 
both to his father and mother. When other reasons, 
or inducements had failed of persuading him to be- 
come a priest, his mother appealed to his love of 
gold. This, she believed, was the most powerful 
appeal that could be made. She offered him a large 
patrimony if he would become a priest, and promised 
,to make him a favorite son. 

This reached his heart, and originated a mighty 
conflict in his breast between his love of gold and 
his hatred of the priestly office. He abhorred the 
oath of celibacy that he would be obliged to take ; 
but the temptation of wealth was powerful, and he 
yielded. As he was at the time poisoned with infi- 
delity, and as he had no relish for any of the duties 
of a priest, his priestly course soon closed. He ob- 
tained a dispensation from the duties of the priest- 
hood, and is now living upon his wealth, as a gentle- 
man retired from business. 

t But his brother Arsenio could not be induced to 

become a priest. He exhibited more decision and 

stability of. character. He was a man of more intel- 

ilect and more principle. He regretted the course of 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 141 

his brother in entering upon the duties of a priest, 
while he was in fact an infidel, and that he had caus- 
ed such grief in the hearts of his parents. For a 
man who voluntarily abandons the office of a priest 
after ordination is regarded as one accursed of God. 

Mr. Arsenio Nicos Da Silva became a merchant. 
By his integrity in his business transactions, and by 
his pleasant and gentlemanly manners, he secured a 
very extensive business. His mercantile career was 
very prosperous, and he accumulated a large fortune. 

When about twenty-five years of age he married 
a young lady of one of the first families on the island. 
She was gay, and devoted to worldly amusements. 
Those who have seen her, say that she is a lady of 
great beauty of figure, and highly accomplished. 
This appeared to be a happy union. They became 
the parents of a daughter that was their only child. 
This daughter seemed to be their idol. Every thing 
was done to educate her within their power. She 
enjoyed the best advantages, on the island, to secure 
the highest accomplishments of her sex in her own 
cotmtry. If her life were spared she would inherit a 
vast estate. She was not only the sole heir to her 
father's property, but her godmother, a lady of 
great wealth, had made her will and left her immense 
wealth to this young lady. 

But the question of life became a very doubtful 
one, when this only child was quite a young lady. 
Disease entered her system, obscured the brightest 



142 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

visions of the future, and threatened to bring her 
down rapidly to the grave. This might have been in- 
duced by too close and constant confinement to her 
studies, or to the house, without sufficient exercise in 
the open air. But whatever might have been the 
cause, the disease was of a serious character. 

The best medical attendance was obtained. Ma- 
ny prayers were offered to the Virgin and the saints, 
but her health continued to decline. 

At this time Dr. Kalley had acquired great repu- 
tation in Madeira, as a very skilful physician. He 
was consulted in the most difficult and hopeless cases 
by all classes. His success had been remrkable in 
cases that were considered hopeless by other physi- 
cians, and this inspired great confidence in his me- 
dical skill. Mr. Da Silva was advised to send for Dr. 
Kalley. As there was little or no hope of his daugh* 
ter's recovery, he consented to do so. Dr. Kalley 
came. His approach to the house awakened deep 
interest in its inmates. Even the servant exclaimed : 
" The doctor ! the English doctor !" 

Dr. Kalley with a cheerful, pleasant countenance, 
approached the bedside of the young lady, and 
examined the symptoms of her disease. After this, 
as was his usual custom, he prayed that God would 
bless the medicine he was about to prescribe, and at 
the same time exhorted the patient to look to Jesus 
as the great physician who only could restore her to 
health. He also requested the parents to seek her 



CHRISITANS AT MADEIRA. 143 

recovery by prayer to Jesus Christ as their only hope. 

In a few days the medicine produced a percep- 
tible and favorable change in the disease, and the 
patient soon recovered. 

This awakened in the mind of Mr. Da Silva very 
grateful feelings towards Dr. Kalley, and also the 
desire to hear him preach. Accordingly, on the next 
Sabbath after this interest was excited, he heard Dr. 
Kalley expound the word of God. The new birth, of 
which Dr. Kalley spoke on this occasion, was a new 
and strange subject to Mr. Da Silva. It was a doc- 
trine of which he had never heard, and he was left in 
as deep mystery of its nature as Nicodemus. The 
impression made upon his mind by this startling 
truth, was not lost in the midst of his business. It 
was a " dreadful sound in his ears," and made him 
feel that he was a sinner unprepared to die. 

It was about this time he called upon Dr. Kalley, 
accompanied by his servant, to inquire into this mat- 
ter, and to learn what those doctrines were that had 
produced such wonderful effects upon the lives of his 
countrymen around him. 

At this interview he received a Bible, the first he 
ever read. This he perused with intense interest, and 
soon became a convert to its doctrines. Of these, and 
of the persecuted converts, he became the conscien- 
tious and fearless advocate. So deep and thorough 
was the work of the Spirit of God upon his heart, 
that he was willing to sacrifice every thing in this 



144 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

world for the sake of the Gospel. That this is not 
mere theory, or a bare assertion unsustained by evi- 
dence, his subsequent history will abundantly show. 

Mr. Da Silva had heard many strange things re- 
specting Dr. Kalley. The priests, while they were 
obliged to admit that he was a skilful physician, re- 
presented him in league with satan to overthrow the 
Roman catholic church. Rev. Mr. Neri, a priest in 
Madeira, had said Dr. Kalley was a devil incarnate, 
and he hoped to see the day when his Bibles and all 
who believed in them would be burned together in 
the public square, in front of the governor's palace. 

The contrast between such declamation, to which 
the ear of Mr. Da Silva was accustomed, and the 
simple preaching of the Gospel by Dr. Kalley, was 
very striking. Dr. Kalley was affected to tears w T hile 
opening to men their lost condition as sinners, and 
urging them to flee to Jesus Christ as the only Sa- 
viour. He prayed with deep feeling for all, priests 
and people. Thus the wide and irreconcilable diffe- 
rence between the priests of Rome and the minister 
of the Gospel was presented to Mr. Da Silva with 
the force of irresistible conviction. The tears flowed 
profusely while he listened to truth uttered in the 
spirit of christian love. 

Mrs. Da Silva, who had been persuaded by her 
husband to hear Dr. Kalley, when she saw the tears 
in his eyes, became very much troubled. She was 
afraid that the servants or the people would hear of 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 145 

the views Mr. Da Silva had of himself as a sinner, 
and they would think he was a very bad man. She 
had no doubt that her lord, (as ladies address their 
husbands in Madeira,) was a perfect gentleman, and 
ought not to be compared with those who had not 
noble blood in their veins. She thought he had mis- 
taken his own character. 

The Bible became the companion of Mr. Da Silva, 
and prayer his delight. He had not only felt that he 
was a lost and wretched sinner, justly condemned, 
but he had also experienced the power of faith in 
Jesus Christ. The doctrine of justification, only by 
faith, flashed upon his mind like light from heaven. 
This opened his eyes to see the awful state of those 
who sought salvation by virtue of their own works i 
This filled him with the deepest distress for the con- 
version of his wife, his daughter, and his blind coun- 
trymen. He poured out his heart in prayer to God 
for them. 

Before his soul rejoiced in the full light of the 
Gospel, it is interesting to see how the Spirit of God 
enlightened his mind, and led him on from one de- 
gree of knowledge to another. When reading the Bi- 
ble, he came to the Epistle of Peter, he was delighted 
to find an epistle from that apostle. He was ignorant 
of its existence, up to the hour when his eye rested 
upon it. As he had always been taught that Peter 
was the supreme head of the church on earth, he 
supposed here, if any where, he would find the doo- 
13 



146 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

trines and ceremonies of the Roman catholic church. 
After reading it again and again with the closest 
attention, he was surprised to learn that nothing 
resembling the mass, purgatory, confession, praying 
to saints and to the Virgin, as taught by the Romish 
church, was to be found in the writings of Peter. 

The epistles of Peter would make an excellent 
tract to put into the hands of all Romanists who 
have a high respect for the authority and supremacy 
of that apostle. They would see, as in sun-beams, 
how little gold and silver, and how much the pre- 
cious blood of Christ has to do in the salvation of 
souls. 

The conversion of Mr. Da Silva was known to all 
the inhabitants of Madeira, not merely because he 
was a man of great wealth and influence, but espe- 
cially by the remarkable change in his life. He min- 
gled with the Bible-readers, who were despised and 
treated with contempt by those with whom he had 
always been associated. Instead of attending the gay 
and brilliant parties, where his wife and friends found 
their highest happiness, he went to pray with the 
persecuted Bible-readers. In their little circles of 
prayer he enjoyed richer blessings than the gaiety or 
pleasures of the world could impart. 

One of these meetings, for prayer and reading 
the Scriptures, was held in a private family, about a 
mile from his house. We are told, by some members 
of that family, that Mr. Da Silva was always expect- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 147 

ed to be present. They depended upon him to con- 
duct the exercises, and to read and expound the 
Word of God. His whole soul was engaged in this 
work. These precious meetings will never be forgot- 
ten by those who attended them. They will ever re- 
member, with indescribable interest, the fervent, tear- 
ful prayers, and edifying exhortations of Mr. Da« 
Silva. By these, as the means, their courage and 
faith were increased at the time when they were 
about to pass through the fires of persecution. These 
seasons of previous communion with God, and with 
each other, were continued, until the family had to 
flee for their lives to the mountains. 

There was a meeting of deep interest held in the , 
house of Miss Rutherfurd. On one evening, when 
about fifty of the converts were present, while Mr. 
Da Silva was addressing them, and encouraging them 
to trust in Jesus Christ, whatever might befal them, 
a priest leading a mob came up to the house. They 
began to shout, or yell, with all their strength, with 
the view of breaking up the meeting. The priest 
forced his way to the house, when Mr. Da Silva in- 
quired why they interfered with peaceable citizens. 
The priest came up to him and held a crucifix to his 
face, saying, "here is your God, bow down and wor- 
ship." To this Mr. Da Silva replied that he no longer 
worshipped idols, but the true and living God, who 
is a Spirit, and not a block of wood. 

The priest then struck him, and knocked off his 



148 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

hat, and he retreated into the house, and finally es- 
caped the violence of the mob. 

But the spirit of persecution became so fierce and 
bold, that his high standing as a citizen, and the 
power of wealth, had no influence to shield him from 
abuse and violence. His friends believed that his life 
was in danger, and that he ought to flee from the 
dreadful storm. 

At this time the converts were flying from the 
fury of their enemies in all directions. The most of 
them fled to the West India Islands. 

Mr. Da Silva resolved to escape. He first fled to 
his estates in the interior of the island, where he 
thought he might be safe. His wife regretted his 
flight, but she knew that his life was in great peril 
in Madeira. In his religious views and feelings she 
had no sympathy with him. She could not appre- 
ciate his conscientious convictions of duty, yet she 
appears to have been strongly attached to him, and 
dreaded the sacrifice of his life. She could not advise 
him to remain, unless he returned to the church of 
Rome. That would be his only hope of rest or 01 
life in Madeira. But Mr. Da Silva found there was no 
safety for him on the island, and he resolved to flee 
to Lisbon. 

His parting with his family was peculiarly tender 
and impressive. His daughter, who is married to one 
of the judges of the Supreme Court, had always been 
very ardent in her love of her father. She had been 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 149 

his idol from a child. To say farewell to such a fami- 
ly, when their sympathies were strongly excited at 
the prospect of separation — when it was exceedingly 
doubtful whether they would meet again on earth, 
required no ordinary decision or common faith. 

The most painful thought in the mind of this 
man of God, was the state in which he left his wife 
and daughter. They were blind to their spiritual con- 
dition. They were members of the church of Rome, 
and under the instruction of the very priests who 
were driving him from his family and country, and 
who sought his life. Oh ! the prospects of the future ! 
Who can tell the agony of his soul in that hour, when 
he thought that the next meeting might be at the 
judgment-seat. 

But the manner in which he was obliged to leave 
his family and his country, added very much to the 
trial of separation. He was obliged to come from the 
interior to the city of Funchal, where his family re- 
side, in the night. He engaged a man to stand at the 
corner of a certain street, at an appointed hour in the 
night. When the hour came, he met this man, who 
conducted him to a house where he could be con- 
cealed. He could not visit his own residence, nor see 
his family. He sent to his wife, and obtained money, 
and then sailed for Lisbon, without the privilege of 
personally saying farewell to those who were the 
dearest on earth to him. 

This is the account Mr. Da Silva gave of his 



150 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

flight, a few days before his death. His wife and 
daughter, from whom he was obliged thus to sepa- 
rate, he was never permitted again to meet. But he 
corresponded with them to the time of his death. 
Often, when he received a letter, he would say in his 
imperfect English, " I have a letter from my wife — 
kind, friendly letter, but no good, no spiritual in it — 
no faith in Jesus Christ." 

When he arrived at Lisbon, where he had hoped 
he might once more meet his family, he was advised 
for greater safety to go to Oporto, where a strong feel- 
ing in favor of civil and religious liberty had appeared. 

While he was agitating the question of duty, 

God in his kind providence shed light upon his path. 

He received letters from Dr. Kalley and from the 

converts in Trinidad, urging him to go and labor for 

the spiritual welfare of his exiled brethren in that 

island. At the same time the missionary board of 

the Free Church of Scotland offered to sustain him 

on this field of labor. Immediately he sailed for 

Trinidad. His arrival was the occasion of great joy 

amonor the brethren, who gave him a full-hearted Wel- 
ts 7 o 

come. Their confidence in him was as great, if not 
greater, than should be reposed in any man. 

At Trinidad he devoted himself with untiring 
diligence to the spiritual interests of his brethren. 
He instructed them in the Bible, led their devotions, 
and was regarded as their spiritual guide. 

Such was his position and influence, such were 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 151 

his qualifications for labor, that he was ordained to 
the work of the ministry by the protestant ministers 
in Trinidad. As it was the desire of his brethren, he 
was constituted their pastor. His ecclesiastical con- 
nexion was with the Free Church of Scotland. 

We have recently seen one of the ministers who 
assisted at his ordination. The exercises were of un- 
usual interest. When the question was put, whether 
they would receive Mr. Da Silva as their pastor, 
and they were requested to signify their assent by rais- 
ing the hand, the whole congregation of Portuguese 
rose on their feet, and raised both hands as high as 
possible. 

This ministerial brother said that one of Mr. Da 
Silva's remarks had passed into a proverb among the 
ministers on the island, which we here mention as 
illustrative of his character. When things seemed to 
be very dark, or when any little perplexity or diffi- 
culty arose, he would say in his usually pleasant 
manner : " Patientia ! patientia !" Patience ! 'pati- 
ence! This had a subduing influence over his own 
spirit, and seemed to quiet an impatient temper. 
What a blessed motto is this for us all ! The po- 
tent influence of patience would save us from many 
wretched and sinful hours. 

Having the charge of this flock of six hundred 
exiles, the only one of the kind, we believe, in the 
world, he was oppressed both with their spiritual and 
temporal state. Of his character and fitness for such 



152 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

a charge, we have the testimony of the Rev. Mr. 
Kennedy, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Trini- 
dad, dated March 24th, 1848, as follows: 

" I have had the privilege of knowing him inti- 
mately ever since his arrival in this island, and I am 
happy in being able to say, without reservation or 
hesitancy, that his diligence and faithfulness as a 
minister of the Gospel are most exemplary. His 
people, the Portuguese refugees, to whom he minis- 
ters in my church, will testify to the truth of what 
I have said. I may also mention that Mr. Da Silva 
is characterized by great judiciousness, and is able 
to give wise counsel in things temporal to his expa- 
triated countrymen, as well as to act as their spiri- 
tual instructor and guide/ ' 

The American Protestant Society sent their Por- 
tuguese Missionary to Trinidad, to inquire into the 
state of the Portuguese ; on his return they received 
the following letter from Mr. Da Silva. 

"Trinidad, Port Spain, 1848. 
" To the Executive Board of the American Protestant Society. 

"My Dear Brethren in Christ: — Your Mis- 
sionary, the Rev. Mr. Gonsalves, accomplished with 
zeal the evangelical work which you gave him to do 
amongst the people of Madeira, brought here, as you 
already are aware, in consequence of having been 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 153 

furiously persecuted by the priests of Rome. This 
people prefer the Gospel of Christ to all their earth- 
ly possessions ; and for the Gospel's sake have given 
up houses and lands and all their interests in their 
own native land. 

"When your Missionary arrived, he found me 
constituted minister of this spiritual people. And 
he will inform you, as a faithful eye-witness, of the 
great blessings enjoyed by this church, poured down 
upon us through the faith of Jesus our Saviour. 

" Finding myself constituted the pastor (though 
unworthy of so great a trust) of a church of nearly 
six hundred persons, it is not only my duty to feed 
them with spiritual aliment, but also to seek prayer- 
fully their temporal good ; endeavoring to keep them 
together in the faith and enjoyment of their daily 
bread. 

" And that they may be able to hear the Word 
of God with profit on the days appointed, I do not 
see here the prospect of keeping this people in the 
midst of the present distress, as their labors are not 
paid as they should be ; for in this sickly climate, 
when the husband and father is taken to the hospi- 
tal the wife and children are left destitute, and not 
being able to pay the house-rent, they are turned 
into the streets, to beg from door to door. This 
state of things led me to solicit of the •governor of 
this island, (Lord Harris,) a portion of land to be di- 
vided amongst the Portuguese, that they might on 



154 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

the same build their cabins, provided they could re- 
ceive some aid in advance, to be paid by them in 
the course of time. But although the governor is 
friendly to us, yet in his official capacity he said he 
could not comply with our request. I have also 
written on this subject to the Rev. Mr. Hewitson, of 
Scotland, who answered that we should find it diffi- 
cult to obtain lands for families in these islands. 
And finally, in the midst of these efforts, the bank 
of West Indies failed, and sugars came down in 
price, and business was prostrated to the ruin of 
many households. Government works were stopped, 
and laborers can find little or nothing to do. And 
worse than all, our children, whose morals should be 
preserved at every expense, are mixed with a low, 
profane, wretched Roman catholic population. I 
have consulted also the Rev. Messrs. Kennedy and 
Bo die, pastors of the English Presbyterian church, and 
Rev. Messrs. Banks, Kerr, Black and Berry, on a visit 
from the United States to this island. I said to 
these brethren that I believed God would in his way 
prepare a place for his people in some country where 
I might retire with the whole church, and that he 
would open the hearts of the faithful that they 
might bestow upon us the requisite aid. These gen- 
tlemen thought the United States of America offered 
advantages greater than any other country for a Bi- 
ble-reading, spiritual, virtuous, industrious people, — 
that a people persecuted for the Gospel's sake could 



uu 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 155 

not fail of finding sympathy in the hearts of the 
friends of Christ in America. I have also written to 
the friends of Christ in Scotland, that the) r might 
still feel for this people, who must receive immediate 
aid or many of them will perish with miseiy. I do 
not ask for money, but for lands. I ask what God 
has given to man, that he might earn his bread by 
the sweat of his brow. Our people are mechanics 
and fanners, virtuous and industrious ; they will soon 
thrive with the blessing of God and the labor of 
their hands. They will soon rejoice in abundance, 
for they hate vice and love virtue. All these things 
I made known to the Rev. Mr. Gonsalves, and he, 
seeing the desire of all the Portuguese to depart for 
the United States, for they were ready to fly, offered 
to take with him a small number, believing that the 
excellent American Protestant Society and the Chris- 
tian community would assist them with all the aid in 
their power. But, on the whole, I thought we should 
wait until we should receive advice from the Ameri- 
can Protestant Society, and the friends in Scotland, 
who, under God, have granted us so many blessings, 
and to whom we feel greatly indebted. And as the 
Rev. Mr. Gonsalves was about to return to his field 
of labor in the United States, I have taken the liber- 
ty, in the name of a persecuted and suffering people, 
to write a letter to the Protestant friends of Christ 
in America, through the American Protestant Society, 
that they may pray for us and come to some holy 



156 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

and charitable determination in our behalf. For I am 
ready to depart to any part of the world where this 
people of the Lord may enjoy the blessings of God's 
grace, and leave the same to their dear children. 
Farewell. The God of peace bless you, my friends, 
and all America, with the riches of his grace. 
" Your affectionate brother in Christ, 

" Arsenio Nicos Da Silva." 

Another letter was received from him, dated 
June 14, 1848. We give a brief extract from it, to 
show the constancy with which this heavenly-minded 
man labored to promote the spiritual welfare of his 
suffering brethren. 

* Dear Brother in Christ, — Your valued letter 
of the 9th inst. written in your character as Corres- 
ponding Secretary of the American Protestant So- 
ciety, in reply to my letter to the same Society, sent 
through Mr. Gonsalves, has been duly received. 
The expression of the kindly interest you take in us 
is highly cheering and consolatory. 

" I am anxious that the American Protestant So- 
ciety should enter correctly into the spirit of my 
former letter. My constant labor in Christ, my con- 
stant prayer is, that my people may grow in spiritu- 
ality of mind. It is very far from my purpose to ex- 
site them by the prospect of high worldly advantages. 
The principal object of my letter was to enlist in 
their favor the christian sympathies of our American 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 157 

brethren, that in the meantime your supplications 
might ascend on our behalf to the throne of God's 
grace, that his Spirit might be copiously poured 
forth upon us, and that there might subsist between 
us, that cordial, fraternal, christian communion, which 
is so pleasing and so mutually advantageous, when 
subsisting between the different members of that 
mystical body, of which Christ is the glorious head." 

The sentiments here uttered are so christian, so 
apostolic, as to receive a cordial response from every 
child of God, and to inspire confidence in the writer 
as a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ. 

In a subsequent letter from Rev. Mr. Kennedy, 
1 dated Port Spain, Trinidad, 12th September, 1848, 
he says : 

" The strong desire of Mr. Da Silva is the pro- 
motion of the spiritual interests of the people under 
his pastoral care, while at the same time he is not 
indifferent to their temporal comfort. But it is not 
worldly advantage only, that would induce him and 
his people to emigrate to another land. In Tiinidad 
the Portuguese are much scattered, and in general 
are exposed to evil influence and powerful tempta- 
tions. Catholics constitute the majority of our popu- 
lation, and you well know what catholics are, and 
what they will do. 

" If, in God's all-wise providence, the believing 
Portuguese sojourning among us, are to be removed 
to your country, Mr. Da Silva wishes that they 
14 



158 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

should be located near each other, so that they could 
worship together, and have the great advantage of 
suitable schools for their children." 

In October last Mr. Da Silva wrote to the colo- 
nial committee of the Free Church of Scotland, giv- 
ing a vivid description of the sad condition of the 
Portuguese on the island, and requesting the advice 
of the committee respecting their removal to the Uni- 
ted States. As the Free Church had evinced the 
deepest interest in their welfare, and had ministered 
to their necessities, he did not wish them to leave 
the island without the consent of the beloved breth- 
ren in Scotland, to whom they were so largely in- 
debted. In this letter he says : 

" More than one hundred and twenty communi- 
cants take the Lord's Supper on the last Sabbath of 
each month. The solemnity and reverence with which 
this act of worship is performed, touch the heart 
even of the unbelieving. Besides, the regularity with 
which the people attend on days fixed for ordinary 
worship, and the general blamelessness of their lives, 
exercise, in some degree, beneficial influence upon the 
character of those among whom we dwell. God, 
who has begun this good work among them, will 
carry it on ; but till this day, through many, many 
afflictions have these children had to pass. In the 
midst of them we constantly implore his mercy ; and 
sure we are that he will hear us. The sufferings in 
which this church is at present involved arise from 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 150 

the decaying state of this island. With difficulty do 
the people at all find labor so as to be able to sup- 
port themselves and their families, and to pay the 
rent of their houses, which are always exceedingly 
high. In circumstances of extreme necessity, those 
of them who sicken, die as much in consequence of 
want as from the severity of their disease. Their lit- 
tle children are almost naked, and have only rags to 
sleep on. Such of them as are of age to be sent to 
school, are, as a matter of sheer necessity, put to 
service for food, and clothing. And what is it that 
they learn 1 Everything that is opposite to the doc- 
trine of the Gospel ; and consequently the children, 
who should grow up to take the place of their believ- 
ing parents in love to the Lord, are like seed-corn 
that is completely lost. 

" Above forty Portuguese have already gone to 
the United States. I was greatly grieved on account 
of it, as it would have been much better not to sepa- 
rate from their brethren, but to wait with christian 
patience till your resolutions on the subject were 
ascertained. Many of these have written to their 
christian brethren, telling them that they had been 
kindly received by the Society, and that it had given 
them a house to live in till the arrival of the whole 
church from Trinidad ; when they might join it, and 
go to the place that should be fixed for their set- 
tlement. 

" If you then shall approve and aid in the re- 



t 
160 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

moval of this church to a country which offers it a 
hospitable welcome, we may expect that your ap- 
proval of the step may not be unaccompanied with 
the blessing of the Lord. 1 Tim. 5 : 8. My only 
joy in the Lord is to see dear companions in persecu- 
tion and brethren in Christ established in the form 
of a colony — occupied in their respective labors, hav- 
ing the means of sending their children to receive 
instruction, and giving glory to God in their sweet 
songs of praise. So would this persecuted church 
prevail against its enemies, and remain unbroken till 
the day of the arrival of the Bridegroom/ ' 

Such were the desires, the labors and solicitudes 
of this beloved brother, while an exile in Trinidad, he 
was laboring for some land of promise for his tempt- 
ed and suffering brethren. Doubtless, there were 
anxieties, and prayers, and tears, of which we have 
no knowledge, but are known to Him who hears the 
sighing of the prisoner, and bottles the tears of his 
afflicted people. 

Let us now view Mr. Da Silva in another and 
the last period of his life. The transition from com- 
fort and luxury to self-denial and suffering — his in- 
defatigable labor, together with a sense of personal 
responsibility, seriously impaired his health. Disease 
appeared in the form of an affection of the liver, at- 
tended with dropsical symptoms. His physician ad- 
vised him to visit a more northern climate. He ar- 
rived at New- York about the 1st of December last. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 161 

His arrival was an occasion of great joy to sixty or 
seventy of his brethren who had preceded him, and 
were in the city. 

His departure from Trinidad created a great sen- 
sation among the Portuguese, and was very afflictive 
to them. His health was so much impaired that they 
were fearful they might not see his face again. They 
crowded the wharf when he sailed. Many entered 
small sail boats, and went, at the risk of their lives, 
to the vessel in which he was, that was lying at an- 
chor some distance from shore. The wind was very 
high, and the sea rough ; yet they ventured out to 
look upon his face once more. Alas, for them ! It 
was their last view of their beloved pastor ! 

He came to New- York not only to seek the res- 
toration of his health, but also to find a home in this 
country for more than five hundred of his country- 
men whom he left in Trinidad, an object more dear 
to him, as we shall soon see, than life itself. 

For the first two weeks after his arrival there 
seemed to be a favorable change in his symptoms ; 
but soon, alas ! his disease returned with such vio- 
lence as to challenge the best medical skill. He sunk 
rapidly beneath its power, and soon passed away to 
other and brighter scenes beyond the reign of death. 

Let us pause here, and stand around the bed of 
this dying man of God. The scene may be instruc- 
tive, and it is solemn and impressive. You see a man 
who has literally sacrificed all that worldly men re- 
U* 



162 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

gard as valuable or desirable, and he has done this 
on account of his love for the Bible — love for the 
souls of men, and freedom to worship God. Not 
only has wealth, and country, and home been given 
up, but more than all this, he has been constrained 
to separate from his wife and his only child. Such 
tender ties have been severed, while his heart has 
been agonized for those who were bone of his bone 
and flesh of his flesh. 

On this bed of death he is in acute bodily dis- 
tress. He is a stranger in a strange land. He knows 
that his sepulchre will not be with his fathers. In 
the review of the past, or in the prospect of the fu- 
ture, does he now regret his course ? ISTo, not at all, 
but, on the contrary, he rejoices that he has been 
counted worthy to suffer for the cause of Christ. 
He has a consciousness of the approbation of his 
Lord and Master, as he is about to be summoned to 
his last account. Apparently losing sight of him- 
self, his conversation, his prayers, are for the welfare 
of his people, and of his wife and daughter. 

He spoke in English very imperfectly, but our 
Portuguese brethren were constantly with him, so 
that all his desires and wants could be known. His 
broken, imperfect English, gives a child-like cast to 
his mind ; but he was very far from being a child in 
intellect. He was a man of a strong, vigorous and 
well-balanced mind. One of the boarders, an estima- 
ble brother from Illinois, who was daily with him, 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 163 

has noted some of his remarks. Learning that he 
was from the west, Mr. Da Silva made frequent 
inquiries about the country, and said he wanted to 
go and see all the land, that he might have a good 
location for his people. This he often repeated, add- 
ing : " You can do my people good. I must go with 
you. They must have a place and go to it, or they 
will all be scattered." 

When conversing with him, of Christ, and hea- 
ven, and the works of God in this wicked world, he 
would say : " Oh ! I want to know more with you. 
You teach me to speak English." This was before 
he was confined to his room. His mind was always 
clear and sometimes strongly excited, or enthusiastic, 
when speaking of the things reserved for those who 
love God. 

When confined to his room, and in great pain, on 
one morning as this brother entered, he held out his 
trembling hand for him to feel his pulse, asking 
with much solicitude : " Better 1" The answer was : 
" No t it is not better." He turned his head away 
and wept. In a few moments he said, evincing firm 
trust in God, and heavenly submission to his will : 
" God is good, but I fear I not go with you to see 
my people settled." 

He seemed to have no desire to live, only for the 
good of his people. Whenever there was apparently 
a favorable change in his pulse, or in any symptoms 
of his disease, as sometimes occurred, he would 



164 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

praise God that there was a bare possibility of living 
to see his people settled in a colony at the West. 
This was the all-absorbing theme of his thoughts and 
his conversation. 

After he had been unconscious for some time, 
this gentleman entered his chamber before day, and 
inquired : " Are you yet alive V 7 " Yes, but very 
sick, pain, swelled.'' He was affected to tears in 
view of the goodness of God in restoring him to con- 
sciousness. 

On the last day of 1848, when he was fast sink- 
ing, Mr. Kingsbury said : " It is Sabbath, clear sky, 
and the sun bright ; — is God good ?" " Yes," he re- 
plied. " Is Christ precious !" " Yes." " I fear," said 
Mr. Kingsbury, " you will not live long." " No," 
he answered, " but yet I want to go with my people." 

On the 1st of January he was weak, restless, and 
in severe pain. Mr. Kingsbury remarked : " Christ 
alone can help and cure you." " Yes," said he, " but 
my people will be alone. God is good. Every thing 
seemed to go wrong since I came to America ; — hin- 
dered here, could not go west and get homes. 
No, but God will take care of the Portuguese." 

To Mr. Kingsbury he said ; " You are my friend ; 
I love you very much." When told that we were 
all his friends, but God was better than them all, and 
he must love Him ; he quickly replied : " Yes, yes, I 
love Him, I love you." 

He exhibited a grateful sense of obligation for 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 165 

favors, however small. It was hard to be dependent 
on strangers for daily mercies. He was told that in 
this way God might be repaying him, according to 
his promise when a man should leave all, as he had 
literally done, for Christ's sake. Matt. 19 : 23, "And 
every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or 
sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or 
lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred 
fold, and shall inherit everlasting life." He replied : 
" Oh ! yes, good friends, Christ is better than all !" 

" Yes," it was remarked to him, " this is the 
1 hundred-fold,' compared with which California gold, 
houses, lands, honors, are but dust. These little com- 
forts, these kind words, sympathizing tears, night 
watchings and prayers on your behalf, are treasures 
indeed, when all that the world calls good can be of 
no use to you." 

When he was very low, and could only say, 
" pain ! sick ! very sick !" he was told that Jor- 
dan's flood was deep, dark and rapid ; but Christ 
had passed it safely. " We would, if we could, help 
you to stem the torrent, but we cannot. Christ can 
and will, if you take hold of his arm, carry you safe 
over. Though it is dark on this side, yet the other 
is cheerful and full of hope." " Yes, yes," was the 
hearty response of the dying man. 

On the first day of January, 1849, he offered his 
last audible prayer. There were several in the room 
at the time. The prayer was immediately written 



1C6 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

by Mr. Gonsalves, who was with him during his sick- 
ness, and is as follows : 

" Oh Lord God of Israel, thou hast been very- 
gracious to us poor Portuguese, who were in great 
darkness in the Island of Madeira. Of thy infinite 
mercy thou hast given us the hope of eternal life 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

" Oh Lord, look in mercy upon thy servant who 
is afflicted. But especially look in mercy upon thy 
redeemed people in Trinidad. Oh Lord, thou know- 
est that thy servant has done what he could for thy 
people, and now is ready to give up even the last 
drop of his blood for them, even as thou, blessed 
Lord Jesus, didst give thine for us poor miserable 
sinners ! Oh Lord, forgive my sins — give patience. 
Bless all who are now in this room ; bless thy minis- 
ter, my kind friend and brother Gonsalves. Prosper 
thy work in his hands. Bless the flock under his 
care. Bless his dear family. Bless all my dear chris- 
tian friends. Bless the Free Church of Scotland and 
the American Protestant Society. Bless brother 
Norton, brother De Motte, brother Kennedy and my 
good Doctor. Bless brother Kingsbuiy. 

" Oh Lord, I pray thee for my dear wife and 
daughter. Oh Lord, may they forsake the world 
and give thee their hearts, and remember the advice 
I have given them. 

" I am weak, but thou art mighty. Let not, oh 
Lord, thy persecuted flock become scattered, but 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 167 

establish them in the faith of the Gospel and unity 
of thy Holy Spirit. 

" Oh Lord, bless all good christians in America ; 
reward them for their kindness to us. These favors 
I ask, in great weakness of body, through my blessed 
Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen." 

Such were the last desires of his heart, as he was 
able to utter them. After this, when he desired 
prayer to be made in his room, he would request 
brother Gonsalves to pray in the Portuguese lan- 
guage. The later breathings of his soul are known 
only to Him who understands the groanings that 
cannot be uttered. 

Just before he died he requested Mr. Gonsalves 
to write to his wife and daughter. He inquired: 
"What shall I write 1" " Tell them," said the dying 
man, " to remember what I have written to them in 
every letter" He had nothing new to write ; there 
was no change in his views in this solemn hour. 
What he regarded as most important to them, when 
he had health and strength to write, he considered 
most important when he was going to give an account 
of his stewardship. 

From this time he sunk rapidly, and the power 
of utterance entirely failed. One of the last questions 
proposed to him — " Is God good to you f" — was 
answered : " Yes, He is good to me ; God is good 
to all !" j 

The last interview the writer had with Mr. Da' 



168 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

Silva was intensely interesting. Faith in the Lord 
Jesus Christ, and the faithfulness of God to his pro- 
mises, were the subjects of conversation. He was 
not in a highly elevated and joyous state of feeling. 
There was no rapturous expression of triumph over 
sin and Satan and the terrors of death. At the same 
time, he seemed not to entertain a doubt of his inte- 
rest in the promises of God, and of his union, by 
faith, to the only and precious Mediator. The evi- 
dence of a vigorous faith, of calm and unshaken con- 
fidence in the great Redeemer, exhibited by his con- 
versation, was so clear and abundant that no one 
present could refrain from tears. As the writer was 
about to leave the room, Mr. Da Silva called him to 
his bedside, and warmly grasping his hand, said, with 
such a tone of solemnity, cheerfulness, and hope, as 
never to be effaced from memory : " Farewell in 
Christ Jesus" 

During his last days his sufferings, from the 
nature of his disease, were very severe. Much of the 
time he was unconscious, but when reason was res- 
tored, the christian graces of faith, hope and patience 
shone forth in their simplicity and loveliness. It was 
both instructive and animating to see this servant of 
God, an exile from his country and from his own 
family, going down to the grave with heavenly sere- 
nity, and with unwavering faith in Jesus, as the 
Resurrection and the Life. In this state he died, on 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 169 

the tenth of January, about 3 P. M. in the forty - 
ninth year of his age. 

The funeral of this beloved brother was attended, 
January 12th, at 1 P. M. in the Reformed Dutch 
church, corner of Fourth-street and Lafayette Place. 
Rev. Dr. Dewitt, one of the pastors of the church, 
and president of the American Protestant Society, 
read the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, and offered 
the first prayer. Rev. H. Norton, corresponding 
secretary, addressed the audience on the life and 
character of Mr. Da Silva. Rev. Mr. Gonsalves, 
missionary of the Society, addressed, in their own 
language, the Portuguese exiles, who were present- 
to mourn over the death of their beloved pastor. At 
the close of this, all the Portuguese present (about 
fifty) rose and sung a hymn in their own language. 

Every eye in the congregation suddenly filled 
with tears, as the notes of these homeless and perse- 
cuted disciples fell upon the ear. The singing was 
so devotional and hearty, and there was such a subli- 
mity in their rising when suffused with tears, and 
their hearts overflowing with grief, that no one could 
resist the subduing influence of the scene. The 
meeting was then closed with prayer by Rev. Dr. 
Dowling, of the Baptist church, and the benediction 
was pronounced by the Rev. Dr. Knox, of the 
Reformed Dutch church. 



15 



170 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

The body of this first martyr from Madeira was 
then buried in the vaults of the church, there to 
await the resurrection of the dead in the last day. 
Beloved, blessed man, thou art now at rest ! 

We have not language to express the heavenly 
impressions and associations connected with these 
funeral exercises. The occasion was rare in the his- 
tory of the church, and the only one of the kind 
that has occurred in our country. We seemed to 
have returned to the primitive ages, to mingle with 
the primitive converts, and to be in the midst of 
Bible scenes. God grant that the influence of that 
hour may long be felt — may be abiding as life itself. 

Some suggestions may be timely and proper in 
view of this brief history of Mr. Da Silva. 

Every reader will at once be impressed with the 

MYSTERIOUS PROVIDENCE THAT REMOVED THIS PASTOR 
FROM HIS FLOCK. 

The path of Providence is often above the clouds, 
luminous indeed to the inhabitants of heaven, but 
dark and impenetrable to us. Mr. Da Silva seemed 
better qualified to be the spiritual teacher and guide 
of these persecuted people, than any other man could 
be. He had personally shared in all their sacrifices, 
sufferings and wanderings. He had a fellow-feeling 
and sympathy with them in all their trials. Beside* 
these, his knowledge of the world and his sound 
judgment in temporal affairs, as well as his high 
spiritual devotion, eminently fitted him for his station. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. lTl 

But the thoughts and plans of God are as far above 
the thoughts and plans of men, as the heavens are 
above the earth. God sees not as man sees, because, 
he sees the end from the beginning. In his wisdom 
and benevolence he has taken our brother from his 
responsible and useful position, laid him in the grave, 
and left his homeless and persecuted people in tears. 
Like Moses, he was only permitted to view the prom- 
ised land, but not to enter it with his people. Yet God 
is kind, and is seeking with unerring certainty the best 
interests of his deeply afflicted people. This we will 
believe, and in this will we rejoice. Never have we 
been more solemnly impressed with the infinite re- 
sources of God than by this providence. How rich he 
must be who can remove the most active and useful 
agents, such as in our view are indispensible, and yet 
by such means hasten the accomplishment of the 
great end of all their labors. To attempt to explain 
or show reason in the present case, would soon carry 
us beyond our depth. Let us rather humbly bow be- 
fore the majesty of that word, " Be still and know 
that I am God." At the same time let our faith 
rest in that declaration of the great Shepherd, " What 
I do thou knowest not now, but shalt know here- 
after." We believe the time will come when light will 
be shed on this dark event, and even those most 
deeply afflicted will yet rejoice in the profound wis- 
dom and rich grace that have done this. 

The experience of Mr. Da Silva is a clear illus- 



112 PERSECUTIONS OP THE 

tration of the Spirit and Power of Christianity. 

The terms of discipleship, as stated by the Saviour, 
seem to have become obsolete in modern times, and 
to have been designed only for primitive converts. 
But this is a fatal mistake. These terms are as un- 
changeable as " Jesus Christ, who is the same yester- 
day, and to-day, and for ever." # " If any man come 
to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, 
and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his 
own life also, he cannot be my disciple" " Whoso- 
ever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, 
he cannot be my disciple." 

These declarations are either true or false. If 
false, then Christianity is a fiction, and Jesus Christ 
an impostor. If true, then no one has any claim to 
be regarded as a disciple of the Saviour, or can have 
any good hope of heaven, who has not complied 
with them. We have no authority to explain or 
abate from these requirements of the Great Master, 
so as to adapt them to the low spiritual state and 
standard of those who seek heaven with as little self- 
denial as possible. Mr. Da Silva, as the facts of his 
history show, literally complied with these terms, 
which are designed for the disciples of Christ in 
every nation and in all ages. Did he do any more 
than is required ? Could he have done less and yet 
have obeyed the Saviour 1 Had he refused when 
called in the providence of God — had he refused to 
give up his country, his home, his wealth and his 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 173 

comforts for the sake of Christ, would he have been 
received as a disciple ? By no means. He performed 
no works of supererogation. He felt in his dying 
moments that he had only done the things that were 
commanded, and by grace he must be saved. 

In his life we have a manifestation of the true 
spirit and power of religion. This is the religion of 
the Gospel : a willingness to sacrifice all things for the 
sake of Christ, esteeming all as worthless in compa- 
rison with the approval of Christ : love to him so ar- 
dent and absorbing that the love of friends and rela- 
tives is comparatively hatred. Whether every one is 
called literally to leave wealth, relatives and comforts 
of life, may be questioned ; but there can be no ques- 
tion that every sincere disciple of the Saviour loves 
him supremely, and if called to it by His provi- 
dence, will leave all that is dear and highly valued on 
earth. No one can be a Christian without a hearty 
and entire renunciation of all things, life itself not ex- 
cepted, for the sake of love to Jesus Christ. Of this 
spirit, the conduct of Mr. Da Silva was the external 
manifestation ; the living testimony to the spirit and 
power of the religion of the Gospel. Who can resist the 
evidence of its power, when it calls a man in the vigor 
of life from wealth, and country, and family, and the 
luxuries of life, and he is sweetly constrained to obey. 
This is "the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. " 

This memorial of our departed brother is sent 
forth, that he being dead, may yet speak, 
15* 



174 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

The influence of a good man does not leave the 
world with his body. His example, like light from 
above, shines on the dark path of those that follow 
him. As the primitive church at Jerusalem gathered 
around Stephen, the first christian martyr, and car- 
ried him to his burial, and lamented over him, so 
have we done with the body of our brother. Al- 
though no relative was present, yet many hearts 
mourned over him, and many eyes filled with tears 
as his body went down to its last resting-place. 

Now let him speak, — not as an angel, or a su- 
perior being, but in his true character and position 
as a servant of Christ. If you wish a portrait of 
him, as he was in external appearance — imagine a 
man of middle size, stoutly built, dark complexion, 
black hair, with a bright intelligent eye, and an in- 
tellectual head, and you have him before you. His 
moral portrait has already been given. This man, 
who " chose rather to suffer affliction with the people 
of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a sea- 
son," who " esteemed the reproach of Christ greater 
riches than the treasures " of Madeira, may well 
speak to us, by his life. Could he be permitted to 
speak to us audibly, we think, from our intimate ac- 
quaintance with his views, he would say, " Remem- 
ber my people, give them a home in your free and 
happy country, where they may serve God and train 
up their children for him. Remember that Society 
that embraced my exiled brethren, and has been the 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 175 

almoner of the churches in clothing and feeding 
them." 

Had his life been spared, we are assured he 
would have advocated the cause of his brethren and 
the claims of this Society, with the most effective of 
all kinds of eloquence, the eloquence of the heart. 
Shall he now speak with less effect ? How power- 
fully does he speak to us of self-denial, of sacrifice, 
of benevolence, of ardent love to Christ, of patience 
in suffering, and of resignation to the will of God. 

Upwards of 500 of his brethren are now suffer- 
ing exiles in Trinidad, besides the sixty or seventy in 
New- York under the care of the American Protes- 
tant Society, who are desiring a home in this country, 
where torture and prisons for reading the Bible are ' 
unknown. For this flock he prayed, and labored, 
and toiled, until health and life were sacrificed. Let 
his devotion, his untiring zeal and his dying groans, 
quicken the spirit of prayer and of benevolence in 
American christians, for his deeply afflicted people. 

What have we done or suffered for the sake of 
the Gospel we so richly enjoy ? Where, in our ex- 
perience, is that self-denial so essential to the charac- 
ter of a christian ? Should the summons suddenly 
come, *' Give an account of thy stewardship / " who 
would not be confounded in the presence of the 
Judge ? Turn your eye away, then, from the first 
martyr from Madeira, and fix it upon the Great 
Lord of the Martyrs, whose claims upon you and 



176 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

yours are perfect and eternal ; who will reward or 
punish you in the last day, (Matt. 25 : 31, 46,) as 
you have treated the claims of his destitute and per- 
secuted people ; and who will expose to the universe 
the iniquity of those excuses by which the covetous, 
selfish heart has thrust aside his claims. 
* 

Since the death of Mr. Da Silva, the following 
letter of christian sympathy and affection has been 
received from the Rev. Mr. Hewitson, of Scotland. 
The moment Mr. Hewitson heard of his illness in 
this city, he sent him this epistle of love to cheer 
him in affliction; and, if death should be near, to 
strengthen his faith and hope in the blessed Saviour. 
When the letter arrived the faith of our beloved bro- 
ther had been exchanged for sight, and his hope for 
fruition, as we believe he dwells in the presence of 
his Lord and Redeemer. 

MY DEARLY BELOVED BROTHER IN THE LORD, 

I received the news of your affliction, with deep 
sensation and sorrow of heart, especially after receiv- 
ing Mr. Gonsalves' letter, which informs me of the 
dangerous character of your disease. The great 
desire of my heart, and my prayer to God, is, that 
your life may be spared, and that your labors may 
be continued many years, for the eternal welfare of 
many souls. 

Whatever may be the will of the Lord, I enjoy 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. Ill 

great consolation in believing that my dear brother 
is in Jesus Christ safe for ever. So that now you 
can say with Paul : " For me to live is Christ, and 
to die is gain. I would rather depart to be with 
Christ," which is far better. Do you not lind in 
your sweet experience that Christ, and him crucified, 
is a sure foundation. Certainly no one who trusts 
in the merits of Jesus can ever be ashamed of his 
confidence, or confounded. The blood of Jesus 
Christ, the son of God, will purify us from all sin. 
Being justified by faith, we have peace with God 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

We have the assurance of entering into the celes- 
tial sanctuary by the blood of Christ. We have 
above, at the right hand of God, a great high priest 
over the house of God. Therefore, let us draw nigh to 
him, with true hearts, clothed with a complete faith. 
Jesus not only saves the soul from eternal condem- 
nation, but gives abundance of grace to sanctify, sup- 
port and comfort, through all the temptations and 
tribulations of this world. Rest, my dear brother, 
in the everlasting arms of the Lord. He says : " My 
grace is sufficient for thee. Call upon me in the day of 
trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glo- 
rify me. I am the Lord thy God, that delivered 
thee out of the land of Egypt. Open thy mouth 
wide, and I will fill it. I will never leave thee nor 
forsake thee." This nromise is as true as it is pre- 



178 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

cious. It is the promise of Jesus, who is the same 
yesterday, to-day, and for ever. It is true that, as 
regards the human nature of Jesus, he is with the 
Father in the heavens; but, as our God and fa- 
ther, he always abides with his people. He says : 
"I am with you always, even to the end of the 
world." His habitation is on high, and on earth we 
have the Everlasting arms. — Deut. 33, " Fear not, 
saith the Lord, for I have redeemed thee, and called 
thee by name. Thou art mine. When thou pass- 
est through the waters, I will be with thee, they 
shall not overwhelm thee ; when thou passest through 
the fire, it shall not burn thee. For I am the Lord 
thy God, the holy One of Israel, thy Saviour." 

Dear brother, having these promises, you may 
trust in the Lord, and rest in peace. According to 
the words of the hymn, " My weary heart, my Jesus, 
I rest on thee," may Jesus draw nigh to your bed, 
showing my brother his hands and side, saying: 
"Peace be with you." And may Jesus blow his 
breath on my brother, saying: "Receive the Holy 
Ghost ;" that your heart may be filled with peace, 
joy and hope in this hour of affliction. I greatly 
desire to hear again of my friend. May the Lord 
spare your life ; but, above all, let the will of the 
Lord be done. If you remain here longer, the Lord 
will be with you here ; if you are called to depart, 
you will be with the Lord until all the saints shall 
be reunited to surround the Saviour, and never more 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 179 

shall they be separated one from another. My dear 
friend, farewell. I remain, 

Your brother in the Lord, 

W. H, Hewitson. 
| Rev. A. N. Da Silva. 

Another letter addressed to Mr. Da Silva, from 
the Island of Saint Kitts, has been received since his 
death. He had written to Saint Kitts, inquiring how 
many of Portuguese exiles there w^ere desirous of 
emigrating to the United States. This letter gives 
an interesting account of the moral and religious state 
of these refugees. It contains the names and ages 
of ninety-nine persons who wish to find a home in 
our country. 

St. Kitts, November 25th, 1848. 

MOST ILLUSTRIOUS SIR ARSENIO, 

My dear brother in the Lord, — I wish very 
much that the peace and quietness, which alono 
comes from Christ, may ever abide with you, and 
may these few lines find you much better. I read 
your letter, and it informed me how much you have 
endeavored, using all the efforts in your power, for 
the welfare of our brethren, both spiritual and tem- 
poral. I send here the number, as you requested, of 
the believing people in this island, who desire to fol- 
low the church of Trinidad to the United States. 
I have asked them, if they want to accompany that 



PWTb 



180 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

church — to follow the word of God and to grow bet- 
ter. — They all say, with much pleasure, they want to 
follow Jesus Christ. I have proved to them that we 
must first seek the kingdom of heaven, and that the 
things necessary to the body, we must leave with 
God — he will add these unto us. 

In the number I here send, there are none that 
get drunk, either on rum or wine, neither any that 
may be called slothful. All this people are accus- 
tomed to come to the prayer-meeting for a long time, 
and there are some new ones who now attend ; but 
I have admitted none in the number except those I 
knew as believers before the reception of your letter. 
I feel a great desire that God may help me to 
aid this people with his holy Word, and may I ap- 
pear with them in Trinidad, accompanied by the 
grace of God. And may he carry us through safe, 
not only to America, but also to heaven, that we 
may there enjoy a blessed eternity with Christ Jesus. 
My friend and faithful brother, pray to God for all 
this people, that they may not be deceived by the 
devil, and that the spirit of Jesus may strengthen 
them in the faith, that we may all go in peace. May 
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and 
all our brethren. All the brethren send christian 
salutations. I remain, 

Your brother in the Lord, 

Martin Joseph Da Lonza. 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 181 

A number of letters written to Mr. Da Silva by 
the Portuguese in Trinidad, have been received here 
since his death. They abound with sentiments of 
most ardent affection for their beloved pastor. With 
the unsuspecting confidence of disciples they look to 
him for instruction and advice. They " esteem him 
very high in love for his works' sake." Under the 
Great Sheperd, they regard him as their leader and 
guide, both in their spiritual and temporal affairs. 

They express the deepest regret at his absence, 
and the most affectionate desire to see his face again. 
They beseech the Lord most fervently, if it is his will, 
to restore their pastor to health, that he may again 
preach to them the Word of God. They hope he 
may be successful in securing a home for them in 
this land. They say, their " eyes are continually on 
the sea," looking for the good news to arrive. 

Who will not sympathize with these deeply af- 
flicted exiles. How sad the tidings of the death of 
their beloved spiritual watchman ! Who can tell the 
depth of their grief, when they first heard that they 
should see his face no more ! — that they should not 
again hear his voice in prayer, nor in the exposition 
of the Word of God. May He who hath removed 
this pastor from this persecuted flock, and translated 
him to the countless host of the ransomed around 
the throne, supply the vacancy he has made, and 
" give the oil of joy, and garments of praise " to his 
afflicted people. 

16 



182 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 



SECTION X. 

Providence of God in providing a home for the exiles. — Loca- 
tion. — Plan of settlement. — Expense of transportation. — 
Appeal for aid. — Colony of six hundred expatriated Por- 
tuguese. — Moral influence on the west, and on the world- 

The Great Sheperd of Israel has his wakeful eye 
upon the path of his people. His purpose is to 
advance their best interest. His plans for the accom- 
plishment of this, being the product of infinite wis- 
dom, transcend our finite powers. But when in the 
developments of his providence these plans are laid 
open to our view, they excite the most grateful feel- 
ings to Him, both for the plans, and for the wonder- 
ful manner in which they have been accomplished. 

For several years our Portuguese brethren have 
wandered in exile without a home. They have suf- 
fered by desease, by enemies, by want of employ- 
ment, and by want of food and clothing. When they 
reached those islands where they could rejoice in 
liberty of conscience, then the prospect of suffering 
for the want of daily bread was before them. Besides 
this, surrounded by a Roman catholic population, 
and by nominal protestants, who were indifferent to 
all religion, they were constantly exposed to the most 
pernicious influences. Their children were specially 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 183 

exposed to examples and vices of the most ruinous 
tendency. 

In this state of things, they knew not what to do. 
They were willing to go to any part of the world, 
where they could have freedom to worship God, to 
educate their children, and could have food and rai- 
maint. Like the prophet, they often prayed, and* 
then looked for some cloud of promise to rise. Day 
after day, month after month, they looked out on the 
sea, with the hope that vessels might arrive that 
would take them to some foreign, but friendly shore, 
•vhere they might find a home. But no such vessels 
came, — no kind invitation came from any people,, 
saying: Come, and dwell with us. — Yet these so- 
journers on strange islands did not lose their faith 
and hope in God. As God had taken care of them 
when persecuted and in prison, when in storms on 
the sea. when sick among strangers, they believed 
he would yet, in some unknown way, provide for 
them in time to come. 

Long did they wait, but no deliverance came. 
Yet they were not disposed to renounce their faith, 
return to their own country, submit to the Roman 
church, and enter their forsaken houses, as they 
might have done. To them the word of God and 
liberty of conscience were dearer than home and 
comforts. 

It is only within a few months that there was 
any prospect, to human view, of any place where 



184 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

they might find an earthly Canaan. The United 
States began to loom up before them as the promised 
land. But there were great, if not insurmountable, 
obstacles in the way of their emigration to this coun- 
try. How could a suitable location and land be 
obtained for so large a colony 1 How could they be 
employed or sustained without means ? How could 
the large expense of their emigration be defrayed ? 
These inquiries, which have been the cause of so 
much solicitude to us, are beginning to be answered 
by the openings of Providence. 

A brief account of the way in which God in his 
providence is now leading this people to a permanent 
home, may fitly close this history. 

These exiles are mostly farmers and mechanics, 
who have always been engaged in active business. 
It has been their desire, if the way should be pre- 
pared, to be located on the new lands in our west- 
ern country. The prospect now is that they will 
realize what they have so long and so ardently de- 
sired. The friends of the persecuted will be pleased 
to learn the way in which they have been provided 
with a home, and the part of the country in which 
they are to reside. 

It will be gratifying to the friends of the Portu- 
guese to learn that arrangements have been entered 
into, and are in process of completion, by which 
a home is secured for these exiles upon our soil. 
The place selected is in the State of Illinois, »t a 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 185 

point about equi-distant between Springfield and 
Jacksonville, on the Meredosia and Springfield rail- 
road. By these arrangements the American Hemp 
Company, which is composed of gentlemen at the 
west and in this city, is to give both the Portuguese, 
who are here, and also those who are in Trinidad, 
immediate employment and good wages on their 
arrival there. They are also to furnish them with 
houses and every thing necessaiy for their comfort 
for one year without charge. Besides this, the com- 
pany have engaged to give every family of the co- 
lony (in all one hundred and thirty- one families,) ten 
acres of land in fee and unincumbered, on which a 
house can be built where they can have a permanent 
home. These ten acres lots are to be on the same 
tract of land, contiguous to each other, -and, by the 
terms of the arrangement to be located by a com- 
mittee consisting of the Hon. C. French, governor 
of Illinois ; Rev. J. M. Sturtevant, president of Illi- 
nois College, at Jacksonville ; and Rev. Albert Hale, 
of Springfield. 

Great care has also been taken that these advan- 
tages, so secured to this interesting people, should 
be rendered available to themselves and to their 
families. 

The writings have been drawn, sealed and deli- 
vered, in which the parties are under bonds of ten 
thousand dollars each to fulfil their engagements. 

Such is a brief view of the location and the plan. 
16* 



186 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

It looks like the dawning of a brighter day for this 
people. It seems to be the Canaan to which God in 
his providence has been leading them in an unknown 
way. But the terms of this plan must be executed 
before it can be of any essential service to them. 

It is now incumbent on the American Protestant 
Society to supply the expenses necessary for the trans- 
portation, not only of the Portuguese who are here, 
but also of those who are on the Island of Trinidad. 
The benevolent community will see that the expense 
of the transportation of six hundred persons must be 
great. Had many of these exiles the property which 
they rightfully claim in their own country, they could 
very easily meet this expense. There are individuals 
among them who could in that case defray the ex- 
penses of all to their new home. But they are strip- 
ped of all their earthly possessions. 

The Society have not the means, but trusting in 
God for them, and relying upon the known benevo- 
lence of our countrymen, they have embarked fear- 
lessly into these preliminary arrangements. The cor- 
dial and prompt response of the community, a few 
months since, to the appeal for clothing for the desti- 
tute Portuguese, has encouraged this renewed reli- 
ance on the same community in the great effort now 
to be made. We do not expect to be disappointed. 
The pulse of freedom and benevolence in this country 
beats so quick and strong that we do not anticipate 
a disappointment. Yet we must receive much more 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 187 

liberal donations than we have received, or these ex- 
iles cannot reach their home. Is not the object wor- 
thy of greater donations ? What are six hundred 
human beings worth ? How much ought we to ex- 
pend to give so many wandering exiles a home and 
shelter from persecution ? Suppose we call for ten 
thousand dollars, and it should all be expended in 
providing for the wants of these suffering people, 
their children, and their posterity. Would this be 
extravagant ? Who will believe it in that great day 
of account when money and souls will be weighed in 
the balance of righteousness ? 

Several thousand dollars must be given by the 
protestant community for their transportation, or 
they will never realize any benefit from this pro- 
mised land. Without the requisite funds no farther 
progress can be made in putting them in possession 
of a home. A strong appeal is, therefore, made to 
the friends of the persecuted, and it is enforced by 
the most weighty considerations, such as should 
come with irresistible force to the mind of the chris- 
tian and the philanthropist. 

Here is a home provided for six hundred persons 
who are driven from their own country by the ruth- 
less hand of persecution. But they have not the 
means of reaching it. Of what use is it to them 1 
Suppose your family were starving to death, and 
you should hear of a beautiful country, and abun- 
dance of food on the other side of the Atlantic, but 



188 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

you could not go there. Would the knowledge of it 
relieve the pains of hunger ? Suppose there were 
those who had an abundance, and could easily put 
you in possession of that land. What think you ought 
they to do ? 

There is no time for delay. The Society desire 
to send the Portuguese who are here immediately, to 
the West, where employment and a comfortable home 
are prepared, and they are very anxious to go. Then 
we wish to send, as soon as possible, for those in Tri- 
nidad. To them, every hour's delay it an hour of suf- 
fering '. The inhabitants of the island having heard 
there was a prospect of the Portuguese coming to 
the United States, have recently turned many of 
them out of employment, and thus increased their 
distress. 

We make our appeal with the deepest solicitude 
(involving, as it does, the happiness for life of so many 
families) to all to send your contributions without de- 
lay. Let the rich give of their abundance, and the 
poor give of their poverty. Let all send their largest 
donations, and rejoice that they can have one such 
privilege of aiding in the relief of so many, for God 
loveth the cheerful giver. 

Should this effort be successful, as we trust it 
will be, and these six hundred be settled on the de- 
signated land, who can estimate the moral influence 
of such a colony 1 The story of their conversion from 
the papal church, of their persecutions and sufferings 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 189 

on account of their adherence to the Bible, will be 
told. The emigrants of every country who enter the 
great valley of the West, will learn this story. They 
will learn that the church of Rome imprisoned these 
persons, and drove them from their country, because 
they read the Word of God. Hence they will see that 
the papal church opposes the circulation and reading 
of the Word of God. They will also learn that pro- 
testants are kind to those whom Rome persecutes. 

This colony will be a living memorial of the dif- 
ference between the Roman catholic, and the protes- 
tant religion. The difference can readily be recog- 
nized by the ignorant and deluded multitudes of 
Romanists w r ho throng our western country. And 
will it exert no influence over them l Will it shed no 
light on their benighted minds ] 

This colony, already, when wandering in the isl- 
ands of the sea, has won many converts to the pro- 
testant faith. Many, who had always lived in papal 
darkness, now praise God that they have seen these 
exiles, and seen in them the vast difference between 
Bible-readers and those who never read that blessed 
book ; the wide difference between those who seek 
salvation, only by faith in Jesus Christ, and those 
who seek salvation by their own works and suffer- 
ings ; the heaven-wide difference between the simpli- 
city of Gospel worship, and the splendid rites, the 
pompous, senseless ceremonies of the papal church. 

The influence of these pilgrim sufferers will not 



190 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

be confined to the thousands or millions of Roman- 
ists in our western country, but on wings, in the 
form of letters, it will fly over the sea, and be felt in 
various parts of Europe. We have but very inade- 
quate conceptions of the letter- writing power. Who 
can estimate the influence of the millions of letters 
that emigrants to this country have sent back to 
their friends within a few years past. Who can tell 
the influence of these letters in hastening the revolu- 
tions that have recently convulsed the old world. 
This is a chapter yet to be written. 

The report of the conversion, the persecutions 
and the expatriation of these Portuguese brethren, 
will be sent in letter-sheets over the Atlantic, and 
will cause the ears of the Romish hierarchy to tingle. 
The facts are so astounding and unqestionable, and 
the course of the Romish church so indefensible, that 
the priests will not have the courage to attempt a 
justification of this unprovoked persecution. 

The bishops and priests in the United States 
have been repeatedly requested to give an expression 
of their views, and let the community know whether 
they justify, or condemn this persecution. But, up to 
this time, they have been silent as the sepulchre. 
No one has yet ventured a defence of the church of 
Rome in Madeira, and probably no one will have the 
hardihood and imprudence to do it. 

There is, therefore, already a moral and salutary 
influence felt by the presence of these refugees. This 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 191 

influence will be more widely extended, and more 
powerful in the progress of time. May it be as the 
leaven entering the great mass of the Romish church, 
penetrating every part, until the whole is leavened. 



SECTION XI. 

Thoughts suggested by this narrative — Islands in the nine- 
teenth century — Revival of primitive mode of spreading the 
Gospel — Spirit of the Roman church unchanged — Remon- 
strance against this outrage on the rights of conscience — 
Faith of disciples same in all ages — Priceless worth of 
civil and religious liberty. 

While tracing the incidents connected with this 
great work of God, and persecution at Madeira, the 
thought was powerfully impressed upon the mind, 
that God has highly distinguished the islands of 

THE SEA IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. 

Look at the South Sea Islands, such as the Sand- 
wich, Tahiti, &c. What have been the influence 
and the triumphs of the Gospel over those wild and 
uncivilized islands since the commencement of this 
century. The progress and changes, especially at 
the Sandwich Islands, have astounded the civilized 



ll 



192 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

and the christian world. Barbarous men have beei 
redeemed from barbarism, and have united in a civi 
government. Education is diffused extensively among 
the people. Christian institutions are established and 
respected. There is a government that secures order 
and obedience to laws. That government has been 
recognized by the most powerful nations on the 
globe. The mild and healthful influence of the Gos- 
pel is now pervading the inhabitants of those islands. 
Within a few years, the providence and grace of 
God seemed to have done there the work of ages. 

JNTow turn your eye to the east and look at Ma- 
dagascar, which has been called " the Great Britain 
of Africa.' ' The light of the Gospel has penetrated 
the dark minds of some of the four or five millions 
of the people on that island. The converts to Chris- 
tianity there have sealed their faith in the Lord Jesus 
Christ with their own blood. The power of the Gos- 
pel has been demonstrated, in the mighty changes it 
has wrought among the semi-civilized population. 

Then come back to Madeira, and inquire " what 
hath God wrought V 9 What shall we say of the tro- 
phies of the Gospel on this island 1 What victories 
have here been achieved over superstition, and the 
power of persecution ? 

Tahiti, Madagascar, and Madeira, have been crim- 
soned by the blood of martyrs in this century. It is 
this, more than any thing else, that invests them with 
peculiar interest. In those brighter days, that are 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 193 

soon to shed their hallowed influence over the whole 
world, those christian historians that will then write 
its history, will seize upon this as the point of attrac- 
tion, as the matter of deepest interest. This will 
make these islands immortal in all future time. 
Scenes of the most thrilling character have here been 
witnessed, such as required the courage and faith of 
primitive martyrs. Such courage and faith hare been 
found in living men and women, who have patiently 
submitted to the most cruel inflictions of human ven- 
geance, and have sacrificed their lives, rather than 
renounce the faith of the Gospel. To these islands 
the eyes of the christian would well be directed, as 
furnishing the most recent and the most glorious il- ' 
lustrations of the power of spiritual, primitive Chris- 
tianity. Especially will Madeira be quoted, where the 
evidence of the work of God is so clear and full — 
where individual suffering is so various and severe, 
simply for reading the Word of God, and refusing to 
worship the wafer as God. 

This is not the first time that God has turned the 
thoughts of the church and world to an island of 
the sea. When he was about to reveal to men the 
most glorious and the most fearful events that will 
ever occur — when he was about to spread out before 
the world the providential links in his wonderful go- 
vernment to the end of time, he sent his servant John 
to the Island of Patmos. There, where the inhabi- 
tants regarded him only as a common criminal, 
17 



194 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

doomed to the mines, God revealed himself to him 
in visions of glory, such as had never entered the 
minds of men — such as the most vivid imagination, 
in her boldest nights, had never created nor ap- 
proached. " Surely the isles wait for his law." 

Another thought awakened by this history is, 
that God is reviving the primitive method of spread- 
ing the Gospel. 

What a day was that for the church at Jerusa- 
lem, when God had added thousands to the three 
thousand converts on the day of Pentecost ! They 
were of one faith, one heart, and one soul — they had 
all things common. That was a day of prayer and 
praise, when earth seemed most like heaven. 

But what were they doing to spread the Gospel 
among the perishing millions of the earth. And how 
could they be drawn away from those heavenly 
scenes, and be persuaded to enter upon the self-de- 
nying work of obedience to the Saviour's last com- 
mand 1 

" A persecution arose about Stephen/' and the 
disciples " were scattered abroad." Now you hear 
of them at Samaria, Joppa, Lydda, and some tra- 
velled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch. 
In short, the disciples " went every where preaching 
the Word." Now the Gospel spread with power, 
and converts multiplied. 

Who can tell how much more good may be ef- 
fected by the dispersion of the converts from Madei- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 195 

ra, than would have been accomplished, had they 
remained quietly at home. While we sincerely sym- 
pathize with them in their sufferings, while no thanks 
are due to their persecutors, yet God may so direct 
and control, as to hasten and extend the converting 
power of the truth. Who can tell how many igno- 
rant souls in the West India Islands will be enlight- 
ened and converted through the prayers and labors 
of the thousand converts who were driven there 
by persecution. Many cheering cases of conversion 
among the Roman catholic population of those isl- 
ands are already reported. 

The scattering of these converts was like send- 
ing forth a thousand missionaries to spread that Gos- 
pel for which they were driven from their country. 
How extensively the leaven may have spread, or 
what may be the results, will not be known until 
the influence shall be weighed in the balances at 
the last day. 

Recently some new and interesting facts, respect- 
ing the flight and destiny of these persecuted breth- 
ren, have come to our knowledge. A letter has come 
into the hands of the writer, addressed to Miss Ru- 
therfurd, late of Madeira, or to the Portuguese minis- 
ter at Trinidad. As Miss Rutherfurd is not in Trini- 
dad, and Mr. Da Silva was in this city, the letter 
came here a few days after his death. It is dated 
November 15th, 1848, at Taymouth Manor, Esse- 
quebo, British Guiana. 



196 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

It appears from this letter that nineteen Portu- 
guese from Madeira are at Essequebo, and that they 
heard that the Portuguese at Trinidad were about to 
emigrate to the United States. Their desire is to 
come with their brethren. The object of the letter 
is to ascertain about their emigration. The account 
the gentleman who writes the letter gives of himself, 
and of the Portuguese, is very interesting. We give 
an extract from it as illustrative of the piety and 
influence of these scattered disciples. The gentle- 
man thus introduces himself : 

" But, perhaps, before I proceed, I had better in- 
form you who and what I am. I am then a planter 
and attorney, and manager of this estate — but the 
Lord has also used me in his vineyard, and, through 
me, has collected together a church exceeding one 
hundred in number. We do not identify ourselves 
with any denomination, but the only test required 
for fellowship is an interest in "the blood of the 
Lamb." With us are united sixteen Portuguese, be- 
sides our dear blind brother Antonia, and his sisters 
Mary and Jokina; they at present are in George- 
town, Demerara. Of those sixteen, only five were 
received into the church at Madeira — these were 
Francis Da Sylva and his wife Maria. Several of the 
others were impressed with the truth there, while 
others knew nothing of it till they heard it from the 
Lord's people here. I know nothing of Portuguese, 
but we have very profitable meetings together not- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 197 

withstanding. I mean, now, the meetings particularly 
for the Portuguese. They sing and pray in their 
own tongue, in which I sometimes have owned fel- 
lowship, though it is but few words I understand. 
They then fix on a chapter, or part of a chapter, which 
one dear brother reads ; this dear brother has won- 
derfully got on with English : I believe it is only 
about two years he has been here. His wife has 
been in this colony many years; she therefore also 
knew some English : and then there is another dear 
interesting young disciple, who was taught to read 
in Dr. Kalley's school, in Madeira. Her parents, with 
herself, and I think two other children, emigrated to 
this country some five or six years ago. She was 
living a poor lonely orphan, on an estate about a 
mile from this, having lost her parents and brothers 
or sisters ; when she heard of the christian Portu- 
guese here, (our blind brother and his sisters were 
here at the time.) She came to see them ; the Lord 
soon touched her heart, and she is now, I trust, grow- 
ing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and 
Saviour. She is learning to read in English, and can 
iead the Testament pretty well in this language. 
" But, to return to our meeting, when the chapter 
is read, I refer them to every text that I can, that I 
think will throw light on the portion read. I then 
talk what I feel led to say ; this brother assisted by 
those two sisters interpreting it to the others. And 
I am happy to say there is an inquiring mind, while 
17* 



198 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

the many questions asked, show me they understand 
what is said. In our public meetings, particularly 
at the Lord's table, I sometimes try and speak to 
them a few words through this brother ; but here, 
not getting the assistance of the sisters, he finds a 
difficulty sometimes in understanding me sufficiently. 
I also encourage them to offer up one prayer at this 
our meeting of the church, that is, for one of them to 
engage in prayer. " 

From other islands and countries we may yet 
hear of the converts who were cast out of Madeira, 
and may know that their influence has been greatly 
extended by their dispersion. This is a cheering, 
redeeming thought connected with the sad history of 
their sufferings. 

There is another highly important sense in which 
God is reviving the primitive mode of spreading 
Christianity ; that is, by raising up men of a higher 
order of piety. 

Are not such men required for the great work 
now before the church ? There is only one sentiment 
on this subject among those whose opinions are 
worthy of regard. But where are such men to be 
found, or how are they to be educated, that they 
may come forth vigorous christians, men of primitive 
faith and self-denial. 

Men of this stamp of piety have generally come 
out of the fire. They have been disciplined in dismal 
dungeons, they have wandered on the mountains, 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 199 

and their residence has been in the caves and dens 
of the earth. — They have been stripped of all their 
earthly possessions, and separated from their country 
and friends. Such have been the christian and theo- 
logical schools in which the Lord Jesus Christ has 
trained the most faithful and efficient of his servants. 
They have come forth from these as pure gold that 
has lost only the dross by the fire. 

Such men will " shine as the brightness of the fir- 
mament for ever/' after the stately piety, the frigid 
formalism, the metaphysical and the titled distinc- 
tions of the schools, shall have passed away, and be 
remembered only as the influences that were opposed 
to the purity, the simplicity, and the power of the- 
Gospel. 

Is not the Great Head of the church about to 
increase the faith, the self-denial and the activity of 
his people ? Is he not about to prepare a generation 
" to endure hardness as good soldiers V 9 Sure, as the 
day of the Gospel's triumph draws nigh, the disci- 
ples of Christ will become more and more like the 
primitive church. 

This history impresses us with the conviction that 
the spwit and sentiments of the church of Rome are 
the same as in the dark ages. 

The facts in this narrative prove this beyond all 
controversy. Yet it has been questioned by many 
protestants among us. They have supposed that in 
this age of refinement and of philanthropy, the 



200 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

Roman catholic hierarchy, if they had the power, 
would not persecute, imprison, or shed the blood of 
the saints. Can they believe thus, with these facts, 
and these suffering brethren before them ? These un- 
questionable facts are open to the view of all men. 
They form a veritable page in the history of the Ro- 
man church that can never be effaced. 

Why were these men taken from their shops, 
and stores, and farms, and kept in prison for two or 
three years ? Why was a christian lady sentenced to 
suffer death? Why were others severely wounded 
and killed % The true answer is, because they read the 
Bible, and refused to acknowledge the wafer to be the 
real body and the real blood of Jesus Christ, Who 
inflicted these sufferings upon them ] The true answer 
is, Roman catholic priests in connection with a Roman 
catholic government. These are facts that we chal- 
lenge the world to disprove or to deny. In the light 
of them, who can see any change in the barbarous 
spirit of the church of Rome in the nineteenth cen- 
tury. The causes and authors of this unprovoked 
and cruel persecution will be terrible witnesses 
against that church. They are a beacon to warn 
this nation and the world to beware of Romanism. 
When you see the bishop of Madeira order the " Te 
Deum " to be sung, to express their gratitude that the 
Bible-readers had been imprisoned, and been driven 
from the island ; as in a glass, you may see what 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 201 

would be done on cur soil, if the power of Rome 
should here be supreme. Let no one deceive himseli 
on this subject. Let us, in this matter, accede to the 
Roman church what she so haughtily claims, i. e. 
that she is unchanged in spirit and in sentiments. 

This outrage upon the rights of conscience in the 
19th century, should call forth a remonstrance 

FROM THE CHRISTIAN AND CIVILIZED WORLD. 

The protestant government of the United States 
and of England should lead on in this work. Peti- 
tions should be sent to the Queen of Portugal, and a 
solemn protest be entered against persecution. A 
solemn demand should be made, that the rights oj 
conscience shall be respected, that freedom to worship 
God and to read the Scriptures shall be granted 

tO EVERY HUMAN BEING. 

It is time that protestant governments spoke out 
on this subject. It is too late in the day to keep 
silence. If any nominal protestant government per- 
secutes for conscience sake, then protest solemnly 
against it. Let us go strongly against coercion in 
religious matters in every form by any people. Let 
the pulpit speak out faithfully and fearlessly, and de- 
mand an. open Bible and an unshackled conscience for 
every man, woman and child. Let the press agitate 
the subject, and speak so as to be distinctly heard 
throughout the civilized world. Let our senators, 
and members of our legislatures, introduce the sub- 
ject into their discussions. Let our civilians and 



202 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

judges speak with decision and with authority as the 
exponents of civil and of national law. Let a public 
sentiment be created as it can be, that shall send a 
decided and solemn protest to every government, and 
that government will feel its power. 

Let all protestant churches rally on this subject, 
and who can tell what may be done. It is high time 
for those who have derived their principles from the 
Word of God, and who advocate an open Bible and 
free conscience, to make a strong appeal to those who 
restrict the circulation of the Bible, or the rights of 
conscience. 

The history of this persecution clearly proves the 

FAITH OF CHRISTIANS TO BE THE SAME IN ALL AGES. 

This thought has doubtless repeatedly occurred 
to the reader while perusing this narrative. We 
cannot ascribe the course pursued by these perse- 
cuted people to motives of self-interest. Selfishness 
would have led them in a different direction. They 
had every thing to lose and nothing to gain, as far as 
their selfish interests and worldly comforts were con- 
cerned. — Infidelity itself, it would seem, cannot 
question this. But we see here the same patience 
and endurance in suffering, the same deep and tender 
interest in the salvation of their persecutors, that 
characterized the primitive disciples. We see them 
cheerfully suffer the loss of all things on earth, for 
the sake of their love to Jesus Christ and to his word. 
For this cause they separate from their nearest rela- 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 203 

tions and leave their country for ever. They go forth 
"walking by faith and not by sight." They are not 
sorrowful and dejected, but rejoicing in God as their 
portion. " The statutes of the Lord are their songs 
in the house of their pilgrimage." 

What delightful evidence is here furnished that 
these disciples have the ancient faith ; the same faith 
that has ever sustained the people of God in the se- 
verest trials, and in the agonies of death, and has made 
them more than conquerors over all their enemies. 

On one occasion, while these christians were in 
prison, we are told that the government formed 
the fatal purpose of extermination. The officers and 
priests communicaled this to the prisoners. They 
told them that the government had determined to 
keep them in prison, and if they still held on to this 
book (the Bible) and to their present faith, the go- 
vernment had resolved to burn them, and thus put an 
end to heresy on the island. 

These converts replied in the true spirit of primi- 
tive martyrs : " We are willing to be shut up in this 
prison, and suffer here, and we are willing to be 
burned, but we are not willing to give up this book, 
and to give up our faith." 

Let us here consider for a moment the causes 

OF THIS PERSECUTION. 

The circulation and reading of the Bible was un- 
questionably the main cause of this outrage. This is 
so obvious in all the facts of the history, that it is 



204 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

unnecessary to adduce further evidence. But some 
may inquire, why should they not be permitted to 
read the Bible in peace, if they were good citizens in 
other respects. The answer is at hand : The bishop, 
priests and officers of government saw very clearly, 
that if the people were suffered to read the Bible, the 
result would be the entire overthrow of the Roman 
catholic religion. That religion can never live in the 
light of the Bible. The only way to perpetuate Ro- 
manism in Madeira, was to burn the Scriptures, im- 
prison, and drive from the island all th.e Bible-read- 
ers. This the authorities and the priests believed 
was the only way, as they had no arguments to show 
that it was wrong for men to read that revelation 
which Jesus Christ has commanded them to read. 
The origin of the persecution is to be traced to oppo- 
sition to the Gospel. This, and this only, kindled the 
fires that consumed so many volumes of the Word 
of God, and inflicted such cruelties on those who 
presumed to read it. 

The government and the priests have made a 
great mistake in the selection of means to accomplish 
the end they had in view. They could not have 
adopted a more effective course to give vigor and 
energy and success to that faith they sought to des- 
troy. But as their hearts did not mean to secure 
such results, no praise is due to them. They seem to 
have been infatuated by their madness, forgetting 
that " the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the 
church/' 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 205 

This persecution will yet have a glorious reaction 
in Madeira. Let not priests, or the government sup- 
pose, by driving 1000 or 2000 converts from their 
homes, they have also scattered to the winds the 
influence of this persecuted people upon the inhabi- 
tants of Madeira. Far from this is the fact. The 
faith and patience of these converts, amid cruel and 
unprovoked sufferings, have made deep impressions 
upon the minds of many on the island. These im- 
pressions are abiding, being deeply seated in their 
hearts. The seed of the Word of God has been sown 
there, and it will yet bring forth fruit. Earnest 
prayer is daily "offered by hundreds of those who are 
scattered abroad," that God will pour out his Spirit 
on the persecutors of his people in Madeira. God 
is the hearer of prayer, and he " will fulfil the desire 
of them that fear him." In answer to prayer the 
church of Rome will yet fall on the Island of Madeira. 

The recent persecution will be strongly condemn- 
ed by the civilized world. The Queen of Portugal 
and the authorities at Madeira will yet feel the force 
of this condemnation. They will be obliged to retract 
and cease to persecute, or they will not be able to 
hold a respectable standing in the civilized world. 
They must permit their people the exercise of a free 
conscience, and the reading of an open Bible. It is 
too late on the sun dial of the world to make such 
aggressive efforts on the rights of conscience. They 
will not be tolerated as in ages past. 
18 



206 PERSECUTIONS OF THE 

The time may soon come when some of these 
exiles will return to their own country, and preach 
the Gospel to their persecutors : yea, those very per- 
secutors may yet labor to build up the faith they 
have so violently sought to destroy. 

Never have we been so deeply impressed as in 
turning over the pages of this history, with the price- 
less VALUE OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. 

We who have been rocked in the cradle of liberty 
from infancy, may not be able to appreciate its worth. 
We have never been disturbed in our own religious 
worship. We have never been compelled by the 
point of the bayonet, by chains and dungeons, to 
believe, or to give our assent to opinions that we 
solemnly regarded as false and absurd. We have 
not been cast into prison and cast out of our country, 
because we followed our conscientious convictions of 
duty. We have not yet been called to renounce our 
faith, or to sacrifice all our worldly possessions and to 
separate from our friends. 

Why have we not suffered such things in common 
with thousands of our brethren in other lands 1 The 
want of personal piety may have shielded us from 
much persecution, according to the christian rule " If 
any man will live godly in Christ Jesus, he shall 
suffer persecution.' ' But apart from this, the reason is 
because the arch of civil and religious liberty spreads 
over our land, and because the church of Rome has 
not the power to do here as she has done in other 



CHRISTIANS AT MADEIRA. 207 

countries. What then is the worth of civil and re- 
ligious liberty 1 Let us contrast our situation with 
the Portuguese at Madeira, and learn a lesson of ob- 
ligation to God for our precious and distinguished 
privileges. Could the liberty we enjoy, have sud- 
denly lighted upon Madeira in the midst of this 
furious persecution, what an instantaneous and joyful 
change would have taken place. The lawless mob 
would have ceased their depredations, and have 
peacefully returned to their dwellings — the flames 
kindling upon the houses of christians would have 
been immediately extinguished — the doors of the 
dungeons would have suddenly been thrown open, 
ane the inmates kindly taken out — the exiles would 
have been recalled, and every citizen been permitted 
to enjoy, undisturbed, his religious opinions. The 
inhabitants, although embracing different religious 
sentiments and forms of worship, would have lived 
together in peace and quietness. 

Who can tell the worth of such a boon ? This 
would be the fruit of civil and religious liberty, that 
tower of strength that God has given to our country. 
Let us then show to all how highly we appreciate it, 
by earnest and well directed efforts to extend that 
heavenly arch as the bow of promise over every 
nation on the globe. 



APPENDIX. 



Testimony of Living Witnesses to the Facts of this Persecu- 
tion — Letters from Dr. Kalley, $>c, $c. 

We, the undersigned, are all natives of Madeira : 
we were all born and educated in the Roman catholic 
church : we have always been in the habit of attend- 
ing mass, confession, and the various ceremonies, 
feasts and fasts of that church. We knew of no 
other way of worship, because we had never seen 
nor read the Word of God. We did not know there 
was such a book as the Bible, in which was found 
the history of Jesus Christ and of the apostles, until 
Dr. Kalley began to circulate it in Madeira. In 
reading the Bibles we received from him, we learned, 
for the first time, that we must be saved by the 
blood of Jesus, and not by penance, and mass, and 
purgatory. We found that the Virgin and saints 
are not mediators, for there is only one Mediator be- 
tween God and man, that is, Christ Jesus. When 
we began to rejoice in Jesus as our only Mediator, 
and to read the Bible with joy, then we were for- 
bidden, by the priests and the government, to read 
it. The priests began to take our Bibles, and to burn 
them. Many of the Bible-readers were thrown into 
prison. Some of us have been in prison about two 



APPENDIX. 209 

years, and others three years. We have been driven 
from our houses and our country — have wandered 
in the mountains, and slept in caves — because we 
read the Word of God, and desired to live according 
to its precepts, and for no other reason. We were 
compelled, by the priests and the government in 
Madeira, to flee away, and leave all our goods, and 
houses, and lands ; and on this account we are now 
destitute, m a strange country. To the truth of all 
these things we are prepared to testify before all the 
world. 

Name. Age. 

Francisco Silvestre, 58 

Luzia Silvestre, 54 

Jacintha Silvestre, . 30 

Albina Silvestre, 26 

Joze Silvestre, 20 

Gregorio Silvestre, 16 

Nicolao Tolentino Vieira, 31 

Demetilde Vieira, . : 30 

Martinho Vieira, 21 

Candida Xavier, 40 

Severianna Xavier, 35 

Luiza Xavier, 30 

Maria Guilhermina Ferreira da Silva, . 40 

Wasula Augusta, 30 

Eita da Silva, 28 

Julia Amelia Gonsalves, 24 



210 APPENDIX. 

Name. Age. 

Manoel Afonso, ........ 27 

Sufia Afonsa, 29 

Luis Figueira, 49 

Geneveva Figueira, 47 

Maria Figueira, 22 

Geneveva Figueira, 16 

Luiza Figueira, 15 

Augusta Figueira, 13 

Manoel Figueira, 11 

Manoel Alves, 20 

Leocadia Alves, 16 

Antonio Fernandes, 30 

Luisa Fernandes, 26 

Antonio Ferreira, 21 

Joao Gomes Camaxo, 50 

Antonio de Freitas, 27 

Joao Gomes, 19 

Joze de Crastos, 20 

Joze Gomes, 23 

Joanna Gomes, 23 

Antonia Gomes, 50 

Maria Gomes, 16 

Maria de Freitas, 19 

Joze de Vasconcellos, . . . . . .37 

Carelota Vasconcellos, 24 

Joze de Freitas, 25 

Antonia Freitas, 20 

Joaquim Ferreira Lomelino, . . . .36 



APPENDIX. 211 

Name. Age. 

Antonio Ferreira Lomeliono, . . . . 31 

Joaquim Dias, 37 

Joaquina Dias, 22 

John Nunes Sousa, 31 

Louisa Candida N. Sousa, 24 

Antonia Nunes Sousa, 60 

Ursula Agusta, 26 

Joao Rodrigues Figueira, 30 

Lucinda Rodrigues Figueira, . . . . 26 

Joano Rodrigues Figueira, 14 

Francisca de Abreu, 30 

Nicholao Figueira, 20 

Emelia Figueira, 20 

Joze Figueira, 18 

Besides these, there are a number of children, 
between three and ten years of age, who have suf- 
fered with their parents. They are too young to 
bear testimony, while they are the unconscious me- 
morials of the cruelty of others. 

Among the signers of this declaration are several 
of the same family names, who are not all related to 
each other. 

The above witnesses have given the fullest evi- 
dence of their love of truth in sacrificing every thing 
on earth for the sake of the truth of the Gospel. 
Their testimony may, therefore, be received with the 
most implicit confidence. Let it be recorded, for 
the present, and for future generations. Let it stand 



212 APPENDIX. 

as a beacon to all. Let it hasten obedience to the 
command, addressed to those who are in the Roman 
church, " Come out of her, my people, that ye be 
not partakers of her sins," &c. &c. Let it perpetuate 
the evidence, in all future time, that Popery is es- 
sentially A SYSTEM OF PERSECUTION ! 



Letter from Br. Kalley to the Corresponding Secretary of 
the American Protestant Society. 

Malta, January 22d, 1849. 
My dear Sir . — I received, a few days since, a 
letter from one of the Madeira sisters dated last 
August, and only by it received definite information 
as to the proposed object in removing the emigrants 
from Trinidad to the States. I now understand that 
it is to obtain land and locate them on it, so as to 
form a small Protestant colony of Portuguese. I 
feel deeply grateful to the American brethren for 
this kindness ; and, if I had known the object sooner, 
would, at an earlier period, have addressed a few 
lines to you, to say that you would receive fift) 
pounds sterling to aid in carrying it out. This sum 
will be remitted to you, along with this, by my 

., brother-in-law, John H. Spencer, of 48 Fenchurch- 
street, London. As he is better acquainted with the 
best ways of transferring money than I am, I shall 

> leave this to his discretion. 



APPENDIX. 213 

Please to insert it in your subscription-list as 
from friends in England, per Dr. Kalley. 

I shall feel very much indebted by your forward- 
ing to me any information respecting these dear 
brethren and their circumstances, as I have very 
little knowledge of your lands, and have not yet had 
any information at all of the locality which they are 
likely to occupy. 

I earnestly pray that God may bless you in your 
work, and that he may make these converts from 
popery a blessing to your land. May the Lord 
himself direct you in all things that you do for them, 
and prove his faithfulness and truth as a good Shep- 
herd, carrying them in his own bosom, till we reach 
the land where the whole flock shall be gathered 
from all the countries of earth, to enjoy with him 
the rest that remaineth for those that are his. 

I am, with sincere gratitude and esteem, 
Very truly yours, 

Robert R. Kalley. 



London, 48 Fenchurch-street, February 9, 1849. 
My dear Sir : — I have the pleasure to enclose 
you herewith a letter from Dr. Kalley ; and, in ac- 
cordance with his desire, am prepared to meet your 
draft for fifty pounds sterling, at three days sight, or 
otherwise, as you may arrange with Messrs. John 
and Robert Osborn, of your city. 



214 APPENDIX. 

If you will kindly take this note to them, they 
will, I am sure, oblige me by carrying out the trans- 
action for you, and so save you all trouble. 

I have only to add, that " your labor is not in 
vain in the Lord/' and pray that our heavenly 
Father may bless you abundantly in all things. 
Believe me, my dear sir, yours sincerely, 

J. H. Spencer. 
Rev. H. Norton. 



It is with inexpressible joy that our Portuguese 
brethren have recently received a letter from their 
beloved friend and spiritual father, Dr. Kalley. It 
was enclosed in the letter to the Corresponding 
Secretary, and is as follows : — 

(translation.) 

Malta, January 12th, 1849. 

Very dear Friends and Brethren in the Lord : 
— I received, a few days since, a letter dated New- 
York, August 2 2d, 1848, informing me of the arrival 
of some of my Portuguese brethren in America. Al- 
though this movement was new to me, yet I rejoice, 
believing that you will continue united ; and having 
lands of your own, you will there enjoy liberty and 
the love of God in peace, with the blessing of our 
Father in heaven. 

God grant that you may thus continue to walk 
united. May the good Shepherd bless and keep his 



APPENDIX. 215 

sheep, and may you walk as true and faithful breth- 
ren in Christ ; not suffering the affairs of this life to 
interrupt your happy Christian fellowship. 

What are all the riches of this world, without the 
love of God ? How much more precious is the love 
of God than earthly treasures ? Love is found in 
heaven. There, the blessed rejoice in love. They 
have no money in heaven. There they do not need 
money. But they could not be happy without love. 
Love, therefore, is celestial; it is worth more than all 
the treasures of the world. Love will remain when 
the fire of God shall melt all earthly goods. Jesus 
said, " Love one another, as I have loved you." This 
is the commandment of Him who humbled himself 
unto death, even the death of the cross, for us ; of 
Him who was made a curse for us, to deliver us from 
eternal condemnation. It is the will of our blessed 
Friend and Redeemer, that all of you, my dearly be- 
loved, may be filled with love and the Spirit of Christ. 
It is very probable that the Jesuits, Puseyites and 
Romans, will do all in their power to sow dissentions 
among you, that you may become scattered by en- 
vies and jealousies, and finally lose the precious love of 
Christ from your hearts. The way in which these 
enemies succeed in destroying souls is hy raising 
doubts in the minds of the disciples, as regards the 
blessed truths of the Bible. In the same manner 
the devil tempted our mother Eve, and endeavored 
to tempt Jesus in the same way. In this way the 



216 APPENDIX. 

devil and his servants have destroyed millions of 
souls. They begin by saying that the Word of God 
is a book full of mysteries and very obscure, very 
hard for any knowledge of true religion by searching. 
Then they recommend the writings of the fathers, 
saying that they contain the truth which the church 
has believed in all ages. They say that we must ex- 
amine the writings of the dead priests to know the 
true meaning or right interpretation of the Bible. 

Suppose a number of men should go to work, and 
make a common tallow candle, and, after lighting it, 
should place it in their midst, and then should send 
out their preachers to inform the people that without 
the light of their candle no one could see in the day 
time, even if the sun should shine ever so clear. What 
should we think of such men. Why we should take 
it for granted that they had run away, by some means, 
from the lunatic asylum. Are not the words of 
God clear and plain ? Can they not give assurance to 
the immortal soul ? Suppose we should see a number 
of men digging at the bottom of one of the huge 
mountains of Madeira, and heard them say that the 
mountains were about to tumble down, and that it 
was necessary for them to work very hard in order 
to prevent so great a calamity. Therefore one would 
bring a hand full of clay, another a broken reed, an- 
other a rotten rail to hold up the mountains. What 
should we think of such men ? 

The words or writings of the priests contain thou- 



APPENDIX. 217 

sands of fooleries like the above. " The heavens 
and the earth may pass away, but the Word of God 
shall never pass away." It is an eternal rock, full of 
life and truth. 

Therefore it becomes us to examine God's Word 
with all humility, and let us ask God for wisdom to 
understand his own Word, written under the guidance 
of the Holy Ghost. 

We are not worthy of so great a favor. It is an 
unspeakable favor to be taught of God, and have the 
Almighty for our Teacher. God has promised wis- 
dom to all who need, and are willing to ask. He will 
give willingly the Holy Spirit to those who ask in 
faith. God and his own precious Bible are the true 
interpreters of truth, and not the men called holy 
fathers. I have investigated their writings, and, for 
example, I find in them errors like the following: 
One says that the eternal Word is a creature, creat- 
ed by God, and that the Holy Ghost is also another 
creature. Is it by these blasphemies that we can 
ascertain truly what is the true meaning of God's 
Word. Shall we not rather search the words of 
John, the apostle, who says that " the Word was 
God." Are these words of the Holy Spirit so obscure 
that we must prefer the lies of the priests to the 
plain truth of the Bible ? May God keep us all from 
such blindness and horrible blasphemy. 

The Word of God is obscure to those only who 
are lost. Jesus said : " We speak that we do know, 
19 



218 APPENDIX. 

and testify that we have seen, and ye receive not our 
witness.' ' The reason why it is difficult for men to 
understand God's Word, is that men do not believe 
in the simple truth ; and then they call upon the 
priests to explain, and they find it to their own inte- 
rest to make the impression, that without the priests 
no one can know what truth is. 

It is true, nevertheless, that the things of God 
cannot be understood by carnal men, " for they are 
spiritually discerned." It is necessary to have an 
interpreter. Therefore, let us ask wisdom of God. 
Our Father in heaven will give the Holy Spirit to all 
who ask, and the Spirit of God will always make his 
own Word plain to us. Examine the Scriptures faith- 
fully, expecting always the aid of the Spirit. The 
priests frequently contradict themselves ; but the Ho- 
ly Spirit never contradicts himself. 

What may we understand by the true church ! 
The true church is composed of all who believe in 
Christ, from Abel to the last christian that shall be 
born on the earth. Therefore, who can know all the 
words of the true church 1 I hope that you are a 
part of the true church, and myself, also, by the 
grace of God. And there will be christians born 
after we are gone, who will also embrace the doc- 
trines of the true church. The true church are all 
the disciples of Christ. Christ is the master, and the 
true interpreter is the Holy Ghost. Avoid the tra- 
ditions of men, that ye may not run in vain. Hold 



APPENDIX. 219 

fast the Word of God, which will give perfect assu- 
rance to the soul, 

I have written so much on this point, because 
many have stumbled by forsaking God's Word, 
and have embraced the errors of Roman priests. 
The enemies of truth will labor hard to make prose 
lytes ; but see to it, my dearly beloved, that ye co; - 
tinue firm in the truth and love of God, not trusting 
in the words of priests, such as bishops, vicars, cu- 
rates and confessors ; but in the light of the Sun of 
Righteousness, which is much better than the taper 
of the priests. 

I continue to pray for you in almost every peti- 
tion I offer to the throne; for I have you in my 
heart ; and I hope you also remember me. May the 
good- Lord keep us safe, until we meet with those 
that shall be saved from every nation under heaven. 
When we shall meet that multitude which no man 
can number, to unite with them in singing God's 
praise ; the praise of him " who was God," yet " for 
our sake became a curse," that we might rejoice for 
ever. Oh, how happy we shall be, when we shall 
part no more ! Believe me, with much love, 
Your brother, in Christ, 

Robert R. Kalley. 

The above letter is truly a "Pastoral." It is 
adapted to the wants of our Portuguese brethren, 
and is as " good news from a far country." It may 



220 APPENDIX. 

well be placed in juxta-position with the " Pastoral w 
of the Roman catholic bishop of Madeira, to which we 
have alluded in the preceding pages of this vo- 
lume. It will present the wide difference between the 
views and instructions of christian pastors and papal 
bishops. 

In this epistle the disciples are most earnestly- 
entreated to practice the requirement of their Divine 
master, to love one another. The bishop calls upon 
his flock to praise God for the spirit (i. e. the hatred) 
they had exhibited in driving those disciples from 
Madeira. Dr. Kalley exhorts them to search the 
Word of God, and seek the Holy Spirit to enlighten 
their minds. He reminds them of this infinitely pre- 
cious treasure God has put into their hands, and urges 
them to read it with the deepest interest. The bish- 
op denounces and excommunicates all Bible-readers, 
as heretics, who cannot be saved, even by the fires 
of purgatory ; but must perish for ever. 

In this letter the spirit of love to God and man 
is made prominent and essential to christian charac- 
ter. But the bishop anathematizes all who differ 
from him, and teaches his flock to curse them. That 
sacred book, which is here so cordially commended 
to the flock, the bishop condemns to the flames. The 
principles of protestants and papists stand out in 
bold relief in these two epistles, and men can judge 
between them. 

Our Portuguese brethren will, we humbly trust, 



APPENDIX. 221 

hold fast to the Word of God, and say, concerning 
those who would take it from them : "0 my soul, 
come not thou into their secret ; unto their assembly 
mine honor be not there united.' ' 



CORRESPONDENCE OF DR. KALLEY 
WITH REV, MR. DA SILVA. 

The following letters from Dr. Kalley were writ- 
ten in England, after he was driven from Madeira. 
They were addressed to Mr. Da Suva on the island 
of St. Kitts. They abound with christian sentiments 
worthy the serious attention of all men. They also 
add to the testimony of the power of the work of 
God at Madeira. They exhibit the deep interest of 
Dr. Kalley in all matters concerning the Portuguese. 
They were in the hands of Mr. Da Silva and have 
never been published. 

(Translated from the Portuguese.) 
MY DEAR FRIEND, 

I received your letter of the 28th ultimo, in that 
of Mr. Wilby. I wrote immediately to the friends of 
Mr. Hewitson, in Scotland, respecting your voyage : 
but I did not receive an answer in time to write you 
by the last packet. 

19* 



222 APPENDIX. 

You inquire whether my friend could go to Ma- 
deira, and there embark in the steamer. Do not per- 
mit him to do it, if it appears to you imprudent ; and 
if he should not go by way of Madeira, let him set 
out in season to take the steamer in Trinidad with all 
despatch, to be with Mr. Hewitson. If there should 
be any shorter way, advise my friend to take it. 

I have received a letter from Jacintho, who lived 
in Mountain-street. He informs me that six have 
died ; among them was the wife of Caeres, whose 
house was in St. Antonio, and the father of Perez of 
Santa- Cruz ; also, one Faria, and one Vasconcellos, 
the son. 

The governor of Trinidad, Lord Harris, sent all 
the sick over to the city, to the hospital, where, as 
Jacintho says, some have got better, and others seem 
to be dying. Mr. Hewitson will probably be there 
some day this week, as he left here on the second of 
January. 

The letters from Madeira are very old. The ene- 
mies are now very brave. The priest says from the 
pulpit, that, unless Dr. Miller does as he would have 
him, he will be treated as Dr. Kalley was. Dr. Dex- 
ter was obliged to leave the hospital. M. R. was 
much persecuted. She was taken to the church to 
confess ; but did not confess any thing. 

But I hear that the Word of God is not bound, 
as some, who were the bravest of our enemies in 



APPENDIX. 223 

August are now more firm than the oldest.* At the 
large meetings thirty or forty persons assemble, but 
cautiously. 

In such circumstances, if the work goes on, our 
enemies themselves must confess that it Is of God. 
that the Spirit of God might descend upon the 
inhabitants of this island! Othat the Lord would 
make his presence to be felt, and encourage his peo- 
ple! How much stonger is the testimony given in 
such circumstances than when they are free from 
troubles. Bearing testimony and enduring sufferings 
for him, give much force to the words of the children 
of God. These enemies are forced to inquire, " what 
is it that supports them]" when they know that 
they might avoid sufferings by keeping silence. May 
God give us a heart to be witnesses for him ! What 
a shame it is for us to be afraid or silent, when our 
God and Redeemer would have us speak for him ! 
I speak of myself. I am ashamed of myself for 
having spoken in a manner so unworthy of God the 
just, and the Saviour. the love which he had for us ! 
O that we might imitate Jesus, and speak more like 
persons who have been rescued by him from eternal 
pain, for his service. 






* This was about six months after Dr. Kalley left Madeira. 
From this it appears that the work of conversion had gone for- 
ward with power, as some of the " bravest of the enemies" at 
that period, were now among the firmest of the converts. 



224 APPENDIX. 

Perhaps we shall have the glory of suffering more 
for him than we yet have done. Popery is at work 
in England, and the spirit of persecution accompanies 
it. The authorities wish to obtain despotic power, 
and the people are so asleep that nothing can waken 
them but popery. It seems as if God had shut their 
eyes, so that they cannot see that popery robs men 
of liberty and enslaves them. The kings of the earth 
commit adultery with the woman. But he whom 
God makes free, is always free : for he takes away 
the fear of men, and the love of the world, showino- 
us more noble things. The christian may suffer ; he 
counts on it in becoming a christian : but suffering is 
for his good, and death is for his good, because he 
has eternal life in heaven, joy without end. 

Mrs. Kalley has been ill. She is still confined to 
her bed. Mrs. W. is also ill ; but both salute my 
friend with much kindness, and wish him the great- 
est happiness. 

If you go to London, as I hope you may, you 
must take a carriage and go directly to 'No. 1 Bond- 
street, Claremont-square, Pentonville, London. There 
lady Eliza lives; and as soon as I hear of your 
being there, either I or my friend will go thither. 
It is a journey of four hours. 

I am much occupied in writing various things. 
I am going to publish a little history. I wish to see 
a history of Bermudas. 

If you should not come hither, may God guard 



APPENDIX. 225 

and guide you in the way in which you may go, and 
give his blessing on all your labors. 

Your sincere friend, 

Robert It. Kallbt. 
St. Leonard's. January 25th, 1846. 



St. Leonard's, April 16th, 1846. 

MY FRIEND AND BROTHER IN THE LORD, 

You must have heard what has been done in 
Madeira, and how the Lord has dealt with all the 
friends of truth. Many have sailed for Trinidad, and 
many have arrived there and died. They have now 
perhaps desired to see the island where you are ; but 
it is necessary to know how you succeed before tak- 
ing any step in it. I would therefore advise that Ma- 
noel d' Andrade, Henrique de Freitas and other breth- 
ren join and write to the minister who is in Trinidad. 
It will be well to say, — 1st, how many Madeira peo- 
ple are in St. Kitts ; — 2d, how many are coming ; — 
3d, how many have died, and of what ; — 4th, how 
much is the daily allowance ; — 5th, what is the price 
of food ; — 6th, what is the distance of the plantations 
where you are laboring ; — 7th, whether you have 
places for religious meetings, (if you are not exactly 
informed on any point, say what you thbk proper ;) 
— 8th, what the work is ; — whether you will be 
content. 



226 APPENDIX. 

Direct the letter to the Rev. W. H. Hewitson, 
Port of Spain, Trinidad, and send it by the first 
packet going south. 

In Trinidad died the father of Henrique Vieira who 
was in my house, and is now in the neighborhood, 
in a school. Caires also died here, with his wife, 
whose house was burned in St. Antonio. Gama also 
is dead. I do not know whether John has heard of 
her death. I feel much for him, and hope the Lord 
will give his blessing with this news. Messia do Ca- 
minho do Meio is dead, and his wife and little son, 
and two children of Perreira. I cannot tell you of 
others, except the father of Perez of Santa- Cruz. 

He who dies, trusting in Jesus, does not die. He 
who believes in that friend, shall not die eternally. 
He says : " Because I live, ye shall live also." Our 
life is sure, being " hid with Christ in God." We 
sleep. " The hour cometh in which they shall hear 
the voice of the son of God, and shall rise." I hope 
you may never fail of the love of Jesus. He looks 
from heaven, to forgive sinners. On the cross he ex- 
piated our sins with his most holy blood. He has 
all power in heaven and earth. " Fear not," says he, 
" fear not, little flock ; it is your Father's good plea- 
sure to give you the kingdom." 

Do not fail of the rest in heaven, after the toils 
of earth. Strive after eternal riches. Place before 
you the good things to come, which will never end. 
Seek the gift of God. Watch and pray. Take care 



APPENDIX. 227 

that you do not grow cold in the things of the soul, 
of eternity and of God. " What shall it profit a man 
if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul V s 

In the parable of the sower Jesus speaks of some 
seed which fell among thorns, as well as of some in 
stony places. In Madeira, a short time ago, there 
were stony places, (persecutions ;) in St. Kitts there 
are thorns ; and as the Lord aided you in Madeira, 
oh, that you may also have the help of his arm and 
the counsels of his wisdom in St. Kitts ! Surely you 
have need of the succor of Jesus. Without him you 
can never do any thing. 

Give yourselves always to prayer to God for the 
Madeirenses, who have despised the Gospel of God, 
and go blindly in the way of misery. Poor Madeira ! 
There are very few believers in it now, unless they 
are concealed ; and who knows how many the Lord 
has " who have not bowed the knee to Baal ?" 

Love one another. Tins is the will of Jesus. " By 
this shall all men know that ye are truly my disci- 
ples, if ye love one another." These are the words 
of our Saviour. " And if any one loveth not his bro- 
ther whom he hath seen, how can he love God, 
whom he hath not seen J" If I had all wisdom, and 
faith, and every thing else possible, without love to 
God and my neighbor, what would it profit me ? 

They said, in the last letters from Madeira, that 
they were expecting the return of Gama and his 
companions. The son-in-law of Maria Joaquin has 



228 APPENDIX. 

six months' imprisonment, instead of banishment to 
Angola. 

Mrs. Mai and Mrs. Kalley send many remem- 
brances and salutations. Mrs. Eliza is married in 
London. I had much pleasure in receiving a letter 
from W. M. Believe me ever 

Your faithful friend, 

Robert R, Kalley 






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